Menopause, infertility, hot flushes, mood swings, insomnia, memory loss and muscle and joint pains are some of the reasons why China signed a memorandum of understanding expressing their interest to import donkey hides from South Africa.
According to http://herbalremedies360.com/, a website dedicated to providing natural and herbal remedies to Asian markets, these are but some of the ailments that can be cured by the gelatine produced from donkey skin hides.
Inspector from the Highveld Horse Care Unit, Ashley Ness, explains that the hides are often boiled and stewed in order for the highly demanded gelatine to be produced.
She adds as the demand for donkey meat is not that high, often the carcasses of the animals are often discarded in the very areas where they are illegally slaughtered.
Director General at the North West Department of Agriculture, Patrick Leteane says while the plans are underway to begin the legalization and import of donkey hides to China, ultimately, the province aims to learn how to produce the pharmaceutical and cosmetic products that China requires the hides, so that we may import them to China to stimulate Gross Domestic Product.
Leteane says in the future, donkeys will also be traded for their meat too and not just their hides. Though he admits that the demand for meat is not as high as it is for the hides, he believes that the meat can still be sold for those with lion farms and so forth.
Pulane Choane/BloemfonteinCourant
