Entrepreneurial Behaviour of Livestock Entrepreneurs of Karnataka- A Socio-economic Analysis

India owns the largest livestock population in the world and it is bestowed with huge and diverse livestock resources. The animal husbandry sector provides large self-employment opportunities and is proved to be a boon for sustaining the livelihood of the resource poor farmers. A study was undertaken to analyze the socioeconomic and psychological profile of livestock entrepreneurs in Karnataka state. Four divisions viz. Bengaluru division, Mysuru division, Belagavi division and Kalaburagi division were selected for the study. A total of 160 livestock entrepreneurs were randomly selected and data were collected using structured interview schedule. The analysis of socio economic and psychological profile revealed that majority (58.75%) of the livestock entrepreneurs were of middle age group (35-50 years), and more than three forth (78.13%) of the livestock entrepreneurs are male. With respect education 36.88 per cent of them had middle school education and half (50.63%) of the entrepreneurs belonged to small family size(less than 6 members). Majority (56.88%) of the livestock entrepreneurs had animal husbandry as their major occupation with 43.75 per cent of the respondents had medium landholding (2-3 acres of land). More than half (51.25%) of the respondents had medium livestock possession and 45.63 per cent of the entrepreneurs had an annual income of more than Rs.4,00,001. Majority (53.75%) of the livestock entrepreneurs had (5 to 10 years) medium level of experience in livestock entrepreneurship. Majority of the respondent dairy farmers had medium economic motivation and scientific orientation. The study concludes that livestock entrepreneurs had different socioeconomic status due to varied attributes possessed by them.