According to the “20th Livestock Census” released in 2019, India has 0.12 million donkeys.

How many breeds of donkey are registered in India?

In India, there are three registered breeds of donkey: Spiti, Halari, and Kachchhi

Halari Donkey are mostly found in which region?

Halari Donkey is one of the important livestock in the semi-arid landscape of Saurashtra’s Jamnagar and Dwarka district of the state of Gujarat.

The Bharwad and Rabari pastoralists are the main communities which use this donkey as a pack animal to carry luggage during migration with small ruminants.

What are the important features of Halari donkey?

These donkeys are white in colour.

Muzzle and hooves are black.

Forehead is mostly convex.

Halari donkey has a strong built and large size with an average height at wither of 108cm in males and 107cm in females, and average body length of 117cm in males and 115cm in females.

These donkeys are very docile in temperament, and are used as pack animals during pastoralist migration and for transportation as donkey cart.

Halary Donkey can walk approx. 30-40 km in a day during migration.

This elegant donkey from Halar region of Saurashtra is currently in a threatened state and requires immediate steps towards conservation to reverse the declining trend in the population.

A survey of Halari Donkey and its keepers in 2015 found that 1200 individuals of the breed were existing. However, in the recent survey conducted in 2021-22 the number dwindled to 439 individuals in its native tract.

What are the important features of Halari donkey milk?

Halari donkey milk has low 0.86 % fat content, 2.03 % protein content, 0.51 % ash content, and high 5.75 % lactose content making it sweet and palatable.

The energy content of Halari donkey milk is 40.39 kcal/100 g.

Halari donkey milk can be considered acceptable and microbiologically safe, having low total plate count and yeast and mould counts.

Halari donkey milk include significant amounts of magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus,
and zinc.

The concentration of different vitamins and amino acids such as isoleucine and valine also contribute to the nutritional value of Halari donkey milk.