Rare and therapeutic: Female donkey milk from Step-Soci farmer gains attention
An idea that originated on the Internet has developed into a flourishing business in the village of Step-Soci, located in the Orhei district. For over seven years, Ghenadie Balan has been raising female donkeys to produce milk, a rare product known for its therapeutic properties. He began with 15 animals, and today his farm has grown to include around 50 donkeys.
Ghenadie Balan shares the story behind his female donkey farm, which he started about seven years ago after seeing a social media report about a female donkey farm in Romania. With a room and a little land still in his possession, he decided to buy some female donkeys. Initially, he purchased 15 female donkeys. By the second year, he continued to expand his herd.
Currently, the farm produces approximately 15-20 liters of milk each day. After milking, the milk is carefully strained through paper towels and then bottled for sale.
Ghenadie receives orders from customers through social media ads, advertising platforms, and word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients. He sells the female donkey milk at a price of 300 lei per liter, promoting its benefits for treating coughs in both children and adults. Additionally, he makes natural soaps using donkey milk. These soaps are created with vegetable oils and butters, and Ghenadie claims they moisturize, soften, and revitalize the skin. A 100-gram bar of soap is sold for approximately 100 lei.
However, despite the sales, the income is not always sufficient to support the care of 50 female donkeys. Ghenadie explains, "It takes three years for them to reach maturity, and maintaining them requires a substantial investment in hay and cereals. There are months when our sales do not even cover our expenses."
Currently, Ghenadie employs just one person, which he believes is enough to handle the workload. For the time being, he does not plan to expand his business.
