Gender dimension in livestock production in Oyo State, Nigeria

Gender is a social construct rather than a biological condition Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select a sample size of 190 livestock farmers. The result revealed that 63.2% of the respondents were males and 36.8% were females. The married males were 56.0% and 27.0% were females. At all the levels of education (primary, secondary and tertiary) males were more than females. Males who depended on livestock production as only source of income were 28.4% while the females were 7.3%. However, females who considered other livelihood sources before their livestock production activities were 19% while males were 9%. Males who were engaged in sheep, goat and cattle production were 3.7%, 23.0% and 37.0% respectively and females were 5.0%, 30.0% and 2.1% respectively. Males who self-sponsored their livestock production were 47.0% and females were 3.0.0%. Males who used intensive system of management and sourced their labour were 12.0% and 30.0% respectively while the females were 3.7% and5.3% respectively. Livestock production as a source of income was identified by 62.1% males and 36.0% females. All the livestock activities were carried out by both genders. However, Males participated more in herding (83.2%), milking (38.3%), hoof trimming (88.1%), ear notching (92.1%), tagging (78.5%), branding (81.1%), castrating (60.0%), silage and hay making (30.0%), dehorning (86.3%), dipping (82.1%), breeding (43.3%), and medication (81.0%) while females were more engaged in feeding (29.4%) and cleaning (60.0%). Chi-square test revealed that the sex of farmers influenced livestock routine management practices. Both males and females are engaged in livestock production; however some activities are gender specific. Livestock producers will increase production if given opportunities for credit facilities.