Knowledge level and decision-making of dairy farm women in animal husbandry practices

Abstract

In India, women's involvement in livestock management is a long standing tradition and livestock rearing has been as integral part of homestead farming system. Animal husbandry practices is an important tasks in animal husbandry activities and performed by dairy farm women besides fulfilling their responsibilities as home makers. Moreover, the knowledge and skill of the dairy farm women and their participation in decision-making certainly affects effectively in their work. The study was conducted in Vijapur and Mehsana talukas of Mehsana district, where production of milk was highest as compared to other talukas. Ten villages having the larger number of female in milk producer' co- operative societies were selected purposively. The dairy farm women were selected by multistage sampling method. Thus, the sample consisted of 120 respondents for the study. A large majority that (63.33 per cent) of the dairy farm women had medium level of knowledge regarding recommended practices of animal husbandry. The participation of dairy farm women was observed more in aspects of milking and preparing milk product (rank I), followed by feeding of milch animals (rank II), health care and management of milch animals (rank III) and breeding of milch animal (rank IV). The less participation of dairy farm women was observed in general aspects of animal husbandry practices (rank V). A great majority (88.33 per cent) of the dairy farm women had medium to high level of participation in decision-making about animal husbandry practices.