PARTICIPATORY ROLES OF FARM WOMEN IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY ENTERPRISE

The performance of farm women with respect to livestock production in relation to specific tasks in 6 segments, viz, breeding, feeding, fodd er cultivation, health care, management and marketing, and processing of livestock products was studied. The study was conducted in 2 villag es of Bareilly district. From a combined list of households of both th e villages owning dairy animals 120 farm women were selected randomly and interviewed with the help of structured interview schedule. Most o f the outdoor animal husbandry activities like taking animals for AI, treatment, grazing and natural service, cutting and transportation of grass/fodder and fodder cultivation and marketing-related activities, were performed by male members of the family. Most of the indoor anima l husbandly activities were independently and usually performed by far m women. The activities included: providing feed and water to animals, care of sick animals; and during pregnancy, attending animals at part urition, cleaning and bathing of animals, cleaning of cattle sheds, cl eaning of animals before milking, milking and processing of livestock products and making of cowdung cakes. In a few activities farm women p layed supportive role. Farm women were fully involved and responsible for jobs related to management, feed and processing of livestock produ cts.