Prospects of Raising Meat Donkeys
Provided by 5830 Agriculture Website Directory:
The requirements for raising meat donkeys are not high, and market demand is strong. The donkey-raising industry is a part of traditional animal husbandry. It is transforming from providing auxiliary power for agriculture to producing meat and skin. It is rapidly developing from small-scale, low-profit operations to medium-scale, high-profit ones.
Currently, with the adjustment of consumer dietary structures and the expansion of the markets for donkey meat and Ejiao (a traditional Chinese medicine made from donkey hide), the production and sales of donkey products are thriving. However, the production in the donkey-raising industry lags relatively behind, leading to a sharp increase in demand for donkey meat and persistently high prices. Although the cost of raising donkeys is low, farmers in various regions do not have the habit of raising donkeys. They mistakenly believe that raising donkeys is less profitable than raising cattle, horses, or pigs. Additionally, due to a lack of market information, farmers are unaware of the donkey meat market conditions, which has resulted in slow development of the meat donkey industry and insufficient supply to meet market demands. According to relevant experts' analysis, compared to pigs, beef cattle, and sheep, raising meat donkeys carries less risk. Not only does it have a wide range of feed sources, but it also requires less investment and yields quick results. It is predicted that donkey products will be unable to meet market demands within the next 3 to 5 years. Therefore, meat donkey farming has strong market competitiveness and potential, with a broad market prospect.
Meat donkeys are gentle and enjoy living in groups. They can be raised in orchards, on sloping land, or in pens, either through grazing or confinement feeding. Ordinary feed combined with fresh grass can suffice for their diet. Grass typically makes up about 80% of their feed, while small grains serve as their concentrated feed, and the straw of small grains acts as their roughage. They are also suitable for factory-style farming. To accelerate their growth, compound feed or complete pellet feed can be used.
Choosing the appropriate breed of meat donkeys based on local breeding environments and market demands is key to investing in this project. The quality of meat donkeys directly affects fattening benefits and future development. China's donkeys are classified into three categories based on their body size: large, medium, and small donkeys. For meat production, medium-sized donkeys are preferable, followed by large donkeys. Small donkeys are mostly used for making Ejiao, though their meat can also be sold in the market.
Donkey meat is lean with little fat, fine-textured, and delicious, with high nutritional value. It is famously referred to as "dragon meat from the sky, donkey meat from the ground." Since 1998, donkey meat has been consistently popular in various markets, with prices steadily increasing. Currently, the market price for commercial donkey meat is 30 yuan/kg, an increase of over 25% compared to previous years. Meat donkeys can reach a weight of 150 kg by the age of two and be ready for market, fetching between 1500 to 2000 yuan, with profits ranging from 1000 to 1500 yuan. If processed into cooked food, its value can increase 2 to 3 times. Moreover, donkey hide is the primary raw material for processing the traditional Chinese medicine "Ejiao," and donkey penises have kidney-nourishing and muscle-strengthening effects, both commanding high prices and facing insufficient supply. Therefore, developing meat donkey production is a good project for farmers to become wealthy.
Meat donkeys possess strong disease resistance, high survival rates, and wide adaptability to natural ecological conditions, reducing costs for meat donkey farmers and opening up greater profit margins. Compared to mules, horses, cattle, and sheep, meat donkeys suffer fewer diseases, especially fewer gastrointestinal issues than horses. Generally, as long as proper immunization is carried out and the donkey stalls are kept clean and dry with suitable lighting, ventilation, and feeding density, and sufficient clean water is provided, meat donkeys rarely get sick. The fertilization rate and foal birth rate for meat donkeys are both 90%, with foal survival and rearing success rates reaching 95%. Meat donkeys have broad natural ecological adaptability, being heat and thirst tolerant with low water requirements. They fare poorly in cold and humid areas but are more common in dry-hot regions. The area around southwestern Shandong, southeastern Shandong, and northern Shandong is very suitable for raising meat donkeys, and large-scale farming can be conducted in rural areas across China.
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(Responsible Editor: 5830 Agriculture Website Directory)