ASSES: MILK YIELD AND COMPOSITION.

Hypoallergenicity of ass's milk protein have been recently confirmed, allowing ass's milk to be considered a valid substitute to the available hypoallergenic infant formulas. Following the medical suggestion, this paper deals with the feasibility of ass's milk production and some of its essential traits, reviewing experimental data from studies carried out in different "dairy" conditions. Daily milk yield, obtained milking the asses twice, ranges between 1250 and 1700 mL(.)d(-1) and shows a gradual decline in the first 120-150 days of lactation. As a hypoallergenic food for infants, the recommended high standard of hygiene is supported in raw ass's milk by the presence of antimicrobial proteins. Studies on nitrogenous and lipid fractions are then reviewed in order to clarify the hypoallergenic and functional (antimicrobial, hormonal, trophic, immunomodulant) possible role of ass's milk in human nutrition. Data on ass's milk composition substantially confirm the resemblance to human milk except for the low (< 1 g(.)100 g(-1) milk) and highly variable fat content, that needs to be appropriately integrated. Studies on the effects of physiology, nutrition, milking and reproduction management of the animals, as well as of eventual physical treatments of milk could contribute to the exploitation of the innovative "dairy donkey" food chain, also preserving animal biodiversity and marginal areas of the Country.