2025 for January 1970

Recently, there has been a sudden surge in donkey prices in Pakistan due to China’s demand for ejiao.

It is a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine, made by stewing and concentrating donkey skin.
It is widely used in clinics for its biological advantages of being anti-fatigue, immunity-improving properties, for tumour suppression, and for its anti-anaemia effect.
It is produced from the collagen extracted from donkey skin.
The collagen is mixed with herbs and other ingredients to create bars, pills or liquids for consumable goods or beauty products.
Between 2013 and 2016, the annual production of ejiao increased from 3,200 to 5,600 tonnes, a yearly growth of over 20%.
China’s ejiao industry has witnessed a 160 per cent growth in the past five years, fuelling more demand for millions of donkey hides annually.
Pakistan is only behind Ethiopia and Sudan in being home to the largest number of donkeys.

Q1: What is Ejiao in English?

Ans: Ejiao is also known as 'colla corii asini' or 'donkey-hide glue.

Q2: How is donkey gelatin made?

Ans: It is gelatin obtained from the skin of the donkey by soaking and stewing.

Source: TH