Principles and Techniques of Veterinary and AH Extension

GENDER ISSUES REGARDING OWNERSHIP OF DIFFERENT LIVESTOCK SPECIES

• Generally,men and women tend to own different animal species. In many societies, cattle and larger animals are usually owned by men, while smaller animals, such as goats and backyard poultry which are kept near the house, are more women's domain. However, ownership patterns of livestock are more complex and are strongly related to the livestock production system and to social and cultural factors.
• Ownership of larger animals is often related to ownership of the land. The distribution of ownership of animal species between men and women depends not only on the society considered, but also on the type of animals raised. The more settled a family is, the more the division of ownership or control over different animal species becomes important. Men tend to own mainly cows and camels, and women goats, sheep and poultry.

Control over the income

• Another way to look at ownership patterns is in terms of management of income generated from livestock. The general trend seems to be that men are the ones who control the income generated. But there are also exceptions to this.
• In some parts of India women have learned to keep their own personal accounts and the pattern of income management in women-managed households is quite different from men .Generally, women's control over livestock resources tends to occur with widowhood and to increase with age.