Health Investigation and Milk Quality Evaluation in native Amiata Donkeys (Equus asinus)

The growing interest toward donkey’s milk as food for children with cow’s milk protein intolerance and for the prevention of obesity and dyslipidemia implies strong hygiene, health and nutritional requirements. Aim of this study was to collect data about donkey health and nutritional, nutraceutical, hygienic and health characteristics of donkey milk. Thirtyone Amiata jennies, a local breed from Tuscany (Central Italy), were examined for body condition score, temperature, heart and respiratory rate. Animals health status was monitored by collecting: milk samples for mastitis agents, faecal samples for parasites, cervical swabs for the detection of reproductive disorders’ bacteria; sera in order to estimate the prevalence of the following infectious agents: Brucella spp., Leptospira spp., Salmonella abortus equi, Equine Arteritis Virus, Equine Herpesvirus I and Toxoplasma gondii; serum and blood samples for biochemical, haematological and immunological analysis. From each jenny were collected milk samples for hygienical and nutritional analysis. Somatic cell count, lysozyme content and activity were investigated. The nutritional milk analysis concerned dry matter, fat, lactose, proteins, caseins, ashes, morphometric analysis of milk fat globules (MFG) and fatty acid profile. Coprological analysis showed prevalence of 96.77% strongyles, 19.35% Dyctiocaulus arnfieldi, 3.22% Oxiuris equi. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 1 milk sample. The serological investigation showed no significant risks for animal health. Amiata donkey milk showed the following average composition (g/100 mL): 9.38 dry matter, 1.57 protein, 0.40 fat, 7.21 lactose, and 0.36 ash. The unsaturated:saturated fatty acids ratio in milk was close to 1. The donkey MFGs showed an average diameter of 2.05 μm.