Donkey milk reduces stress hormone release and inflammatory response in weaning piglets. Previous experiences in Europe where this type of milk was used in premature babies, suggest that donkey milk could be used in humans and in certain animal categories within livestock production.
Research from USP’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ) reveals that supplementation with donkey milk reduced the release of cortisol and the inflammatory response of piglets during weaning. The study which was conducted in collaboration with the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), suggests that donkey milk has the potential to be used as a supplement for human babies. However, in order to elucidate its true potential, more research is required. The aforementioned study also points out that the production of this type of milk could eliminate donkey slaughtering. A practice that has become fairly common withe purpose of exporting the skin of these animals to Asian countries. Threatening the livelihood of the species.
“This research was motivated by a study we completed in the Northeast where 70% of the interviewees, from the regions of Euclides da Cunha, in Bahia, and Santa Quitéria, in Ceará, commented on the use of donkey milk for therapeutic purposes,” Sharacely de Souza Farias, in charge of the research trial, and Professor Adroaldo José Zanella, reported to the USP Journal, which acted as a supervising body for this work.
“According to the latest data computed by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in 2018, there were 822,255 donkeys in Brazil.” The conclusions of a study carried out as part of a doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, are presented in the following article:”Donkey milk mitigates stress-mediated immune, cortisol and behavioral responses of piglets to weaning: A study to foster future interventions in humans,” which was published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Immunology on April 14.
According to researchers from this study, donkey milk is not marketed in the country. However, in countries such as Germany, France and Italy, it is used especially for premature babies. “Donkey milk is highly valued for its similarity to human milk,” the researchers pointed out.
- “Taking into account that a significant amount of research indicates that weaning is a very stressful time for piglets, we wanted to study the effect of donkey milk supplementation during this period.” In commercial farms weaning is usually carried out when piglets are just four weeks old, when in a natural scenario this happens with up to 12 weeks.
“To evaluate the effectiveness of this type of supplementation and its effects on: the immune system, cognitive, and weaning stress response, we measured the concentration of salivary cortisol. Being cortisol, a hormone that is strongly correlated with the stress response. This was carried our in addition to behavioral tests that assessed emotionality and cognition. As well as isolating piglet immune cells for their evaluation.”Said Sharacely Farias and Professor Zanella.
| “All measurements were taken before and after weaning. We evaluated the expression of genes associated with the stress response in immune cells, as well as the production of inflammatory cytokines.” |
“The immune system represents a set of general and specific responses that protect both animals and humans against potential pathogens and disease. Stress can make these mechanisms more vulnerable, and affect their adequate development,” the researchers state.
“Piglets are excellent animal models, used in many comparative studies with humans, to assess: anatomy, physiology, neurodevelopmental processes and immune response. Weaning represents a critical period for piglets. Exhibiting increased sensitivity to stressors and great exposure to pathogens due to predisposing factors like maternal separation and an abrupt dietary change.”
Results
Researchers found that donkey milk reduced cortisol release in piglets subjected to stressful situations.
“We also found, that donkey milk can decrease the production of 1L1β genes, which is a pro-inflammatory cytokine. Exaggerated inflammatory responses can compromise various adaptive systems, causing a negative impact on animal development,” the researchers pointed out. “We were able to verify that donkey milk helped to mitigate the inflammatory response caused by weaning stress and the abrupt dietary change in piglets. This response was not observed in the group of piglets that were supplied a dietary treatment composed by skim bovine milk nor in the negative control group which did not receive any type of supplementation.”
The obtained results suggest that supplementation with donkey milk could be used as a nutritional strategy to Mitigate the negative impacts associated with weaning stress. Reducing the release of cortisol as well as the expression of 1L1 Beta, which can trigger inflammatory responses,” highlighted Sharacely de Souza Farias and Professor Zanella.
- “Therefore, donkey milk supplementation could also be considered for its use in premature babies, and as a food supplement for children and the elderly. However, more research should be conducted to assess this.”
The scientists that conducted this study hope that their findings and the proof of donkey milk’s health benefits, may help change the view of the Brazilian population and its politicians on donkeys. “We must urgently put an end to donkey slaughtering and trying to meet China’s demand for a product that we should not be exporting” they warned.
“About 70,000 animals are slaughtered every year just for to export their skin. Collagen derived from donkey skin is used in traditional chinese medicine, despite the fact that its therapeutic properties have not been scientifically proven. This activity has led donkeys to be classified as a specified at risk of extinction. This is linked to the prolonged gestation(12 months) and late sexual maturity of the species.”
“Our research group is part of the National Task Force for Donkeys, which has been working to improve the wellbeing of these animals since 2015. Looking to re-signify the role of this species in the Northeast and in the whole Brazilian economy and culture,” concludes the professor. This research is described in the doctoral thesis of Sharacely de Souza Farias, whom was supervised by Zanella and co-supervised by Professor Chiara Albano de Araujo Oliveira, from UFBA.