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STUDIES ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF RURAL WOMEN REGARDING LOCAL FEED
RESOURCES AND FEEDING SYSTEMS DEVELOPED FOR LIVESTOCK
Sangeeta D Rangnekar
4, Shobhana Apartments, Nehru Park,
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad-380015, India
(This paper was first presented at the 'International Conference
on Increasing Livestock Production through Utilization of Local
Resources'. CECAT, Beijing, 18-22 October 1993)
SUMMARY
Livestock are not only a part of the farming system in India but
are also closely linked with religion and culture. Most of the work
involving livestock management is considered the traditional
responsibility of women. To make livestock extension programmes
effective it is imperative to study the involvement of women, their
perceptions and knowledge. This paper describes briefly some
studies carried out with women from various communities, in a few
pockets of North Gujarat and South Rajasthan. The studies revealed
that the women have a great deal of information about local feed
resources and a good working knowledge of animal behaviour, feed
preferences and production characteristics. Through experience the
women have developed feeding practices to suit different types of
livestock. They have identified beneficial feed resources, ranging
from farm by-products to forest products. The rural men and women
have also developed ways of conserving useful feed material for
periods of scarcity. This paper recommends that groups of women
facilitators be developed as well as suitable extension and
training programmes which include women. Likewise, this paper
discusses development strategies which may lead to improvement in
feeding and management practices suitable for more productive
livestock systems. These practices are developed through a
participatory approach. Development planners and researchers pay
very little attention to women's perceptions, needs and
constraints, although many talk about the role of women in
livestock production (particularly livestock feeding). This paper
strongly recommends more studies on the involvement of women,
giving more weight to their views and making use of their
experience and knowledge.
KEY WORDS: Women, rural development, livestock, feed resources
INTRODUCTION
Livestock are not only a source of employment, income and food but
are also critical to strong socio-cultural linkages in countries
like India. These animals were given a place of importance by the
society in recognition of their contribution to human welfare.
Evidence of this importance is noted by references in ancient
scriptures, by their place of prominence among the official seals
of the Harappan civilization dating 4000 BC and by the special
festivals dedicated to livestock. The involvement of women with
livestock is much more than just with crops. This involvement is
probably indicative of the same socio-cultural linkage.
While most of us are aware that livestock management is considered
the traditional responsibility of women and that women shoulder
most of the workload, the subject has been neglected too long by
researchers and development planners (Swaminathan 1988, 1990). The
involvement of women is just now receiving some attention, as is
evident from the number of conferences organized and bulletins
published on the subject during the last few years (ICAR 1988;
Vishwanathan 1989; FAO 1991).
This paper is based on studies, observations and experiences during
the author's involvement in parts of north Gujarat and South
Rajasthan, in the Western parts of the country. Studies were
conducted in different agro-ecological conditions involving
different socio-economic groups with emphasis on tribals and
pastoralists. Results of some of the studies have been presented at
international conferences (Rangnekar et al 1991; Rangnekar
1992a,b). This paper focusses on aspects related to animal feeding
with an emphasis on the ingenious ways women use local resources
and optimize this use through the making of mixtures, the
processing of various materials and the adoption of new
technologies.
Livestock development can be effective only if appropriate
extension strategies are developed which consider the involvement
of women (Rangnekar 1992b).
ROLE OF WOMEN IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION
The studies in India on the role of women in livestock production
have concentrated mostly on work-sharing (Vishwanathan 1989; George
1990). Very few workers have studied aspects like perceptions of
women, their awareness and knowledge; the majority of the reports
pertain to large ruminants (Rangnekar 1992a,b).
The results indicate that feeding, cleaning and milking of dairy
animals, the care of young animals and administration of medicines
are done mostly by women. Observations in both the states show that
involvement varies due to socio-economic status as well as region
(George 1990; Rangnekar et al 1991; Rangnekar 1992b). It was
observed that women from tribal families carry out both indoor as
well as outdoor jobs unlike high caste and women from rich families
who hardly undertake any work. However, in pastoralist families
work is evenly shared between men and women, maybe because
livestock is the major source of livelihood. Similar variation in
work sharing is reported with respect to goat management (Ahuja and
Rathod 1987; Rangnekar 1992a). The feeding of animals (concentrate
and roughage) is mostly by women, irrespective of socio-economic
conditions. Amongst the poor families fodder is brought mostly by
women who go out to work as labor (Rangnekar et al 1991).
Preparation of home-made feed is exclusively by women, as is also
the processing of feed (wherever practiced) i.e. cooking. A few
observations are indicated in Table 1 and 2.
TABLE 1: Observations on work-sharing and decision-making
by income base grouping.
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F A M I L Y T Y P E
POOR MEDIUM RICH
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MANAGEMENT
Cleaning W100 W100 O100
Feeding W 80 W 80 O 90
Watering W100 W 90 O100
Milking W 80 W 90 O100
Grazing W 80 W 90 O100
Managing bullocks NA M 90 O100
DECISION MAKING
Disposal of Milk W 80 W100 W 50
Sale of Animal W 40 W 65 M 90
Purchase of Animal W 80 W 80 M 80
Breeding NA W 80 M 80
Vaccination NA W 80 M 90
Type of feed NA W 80 M 90
Type of fodder NA M 80 M 90
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Notes : 1. The figures indicate share in percentage basis.
2. Abbreviations used - W for women, M for men, O for
others (usually hired labor), NA - not applicable.
Source: Rangnekar et al (1991).
DECISION-MAKING
It was rather difficult to gather factual information about the
decision-making process and the technique of "socializing and
kitchen talk" had to be used to break reservations (Rangnekar et al
1991). The results indicate that the generalizations made in some
reports (Punia and Yadav 1990) that most decisions on livestock
production are made by women, was not noticed in the area of study.
The aspects related to disposal of milk and milk products and
feeding of animals were decided by women in most cases (except in
commercial operations). The decisions about disposal of other
products like meat, hair and wool were made by men. Decision-making
regarding sale and purchase of animals varies between region and
socio-economic groups. Similar observations are reported by George
(1990) who has tried to draw attention to the marginalization of
the women with progressive development. The decisions on use of
income varies widely with the socio-economic status of the family
(Rangnekar et al 1991).
TABLE 2: Observations on work-sharing and decision-making
by social base grouping.
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COMMUNITY/DISTRICTS Tribals Pastoralist
STUDY ASPECTS B A U B A U
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MANAGEMENT
Cleaning W100 - W100 W100 W100 -
Feeding W100 -
Watering W100 - W100 W 50 W100 -
Milking W100 - W100 W 50 W100 -
Grazing W 50 - W100 W 70 W100 -
Managing bullocks Very few NA NA -
DECISION MAKING
Disposal of Milk W100 - W100 W100 W100 -
Sale of Animal W100 - M 80 W 50 W 60 -
Purchase animal M/W - M 70 W/50 W 60 -
Breeding M/W - M100 W/50 W/50 -
Vaccination NA NA
Type of Feed M 80 - M100 M 80 M 80 -
Type of fodder NA NA
Use of income W 70 - M100 W/50 M 80 -
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Abbreviations used:
1) B: Baroda district, A: Ahmedabad dist., U: Udaipur dist.
2) W: women, M: men, NA: not applicable.
The figures indicate share on percentage basis.
Source: Rangnekar et al (1991).
AWARENESS, PERCEPTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE OF WOMEN
Livestock management was always perceived as the traditional
responsibility of women. For women, livestock are important as a
source of fuel, food and as a source of supplementary income for
the family. For most of the women high fat in milk is more
important than quantity of milk (Rangnekar 1992a,b). Many women
prefer keeping goats due to ease of handling, low input need, cheap
source of good quality food for the family and also the manure
(Rangnekar 1992a).
Women possess good knowledge of various aspects of livestock
production management and particularly of feed resources. They know
each animal's production characteristics, temperament and feeding
behaviour. Most women are aware of the need for good quality feed
to achieve better production but feel that feeding to a non-
producing animal is not necessary.
WOMEN'S ACUMEN ABOUT FEED RESOURCES AND FEEDING STRATEGIES
The salient features pertaining to information gathered from women
regarding local feed resources, the traditional practices observed
for conserving useful feed material, methods of processing feeds,
ingenuity of women in adopting new processing technologies, and
strategies of partitioning available feed resources for optimal
utilization will be described. Critical studies and proper
understanding of traditional methods, which have emerged out of
long-standing experience, supplemented with newer knowledge could
help in developing effective animal feeding strategies for more
productive animals (Rangnekar 1991). Such efforts are necessary
simultaneously with breeding improvement efforts and need to be
taken-up on a large scale in livestock development programmes.
IDENTIFICATION OF BENEFICIAL FEEDS AND LOCAL FEED
RESOURCES
Besides the major feed resources like crop residues and cultivated
fodder, the women were found to be well aware of locally existing
grasses, creepers, bushes, weeds and tree species which could be
utilized as supplementary feeds and drought feeds. Besides
popularly known trees, grasses and bushes, women have identified a
number of local species as beneficial for dairy animals.
Interestingly they point out that tree or bush species beneficial
to or liked by the cow, buffalo or goat, are different. A few
species extensively used in many villages of north-east Gujarat
were chosen for study. The benefits claimed were ratified with the
help of extension officers and women workers, who discussed their
observations with women farmers from several villages. These
observations on a few of the feed materials are summarized in
Table 3.
In tribal areas women collect creepers like Tinosperma and leaves
of Alangium and Moringa species for feeding milch cows and
buffaloes. The pods of Acacia and Prosopis species are mostly fed
to goat and buffalo. The leaves of Azadirachta and Acacia species
are fed mainly to goat. The Bassia latifolia tree commonly known as
Mahuva tree is fascinating and there is a social taboo against the
cutting of this tree probably due to the recognition of its value
in tribal areas. The leaves, flowers and fruit covers are used for
animal feeding and the oil from the seed is used for cooking; its
oil cake is fed to livestock in some areas but considered toxic in
other areas. The flowers are known to be rich in energy and are
used for human consumption in scarcity, for preparing local
alcoholic drinks and also for animal feeding. The flowers are
mostly fed to bullocks during the working season and if surplus
quantity is available these are offered to milch animals. Farmers
have been using cotton seed and cotton seed cake for a long time
and always claimed beneficial effects for the animal and for the
fat content of milk. Researchers have only recently realized the
usefulness of these materials as a protein source (Rangnekar 1991).
TABLE 3: Observations on traditionally used feed resources
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NO FEED MATERIAL TYPE OF ANIMAL BENEFITS CLAIMED
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1. Cotton Seed Improves milk fat %,
Cotton seed cake Buffaloes body condition
2. Pods and Seeds Improvement in milk
of Acacia & yield, fat % &
Prosopis species Buffalo & goat induces heat
3. Tinosperma Improvement in milk
Cordifolia production &
(creeper) Cows & buffaloes inducing heat
4. Leaves of
Alangium salvifolium,
Bassia latifolia,
Moringa tomentosa, Cows, buffaloes, Improvement in milk
Butea monosperma goat production
5. Azadirachta indica Mainly goat Improves milk
production, dewormer
6. Flowers of Preference to Improves health,
Bassia latifolia bullocks & milk working ability of
producing animal bullocks & milk
production
7. Bushes & shrubs Improves milk fat
i) Lana grass, i) Buffalo Better
ii)Zizyphus ii) goat growth in
numularia goat
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CONSERVATION OF FEEDS
Conservation of feed and fodder is usually discussed by most
technicians as a new technology (to be transferred to the farmers).
However, while studying the traditional practices of feeding
animals it was noticed that conserving supplementary feeds for use
during the dry season is a traditional practice.
Through their experience, women have identified supplementary feeds
beneficial to animal productivity. Most of these are available
seasonally and are generally dried and stored for use in the dry
season. On laboratory analysis it was found that most of these
materials are rich in protein and a few are rich in energy and
minerals and thus they are bound to have a beneficial effect on
animals that usually are kept on a straw-based diet (Rangnekar
1993). Table 4 summarizes information on some of the commonly
stored feed materials.
TABLE 4: Characteristics of feed resources that are usually
conserved and stored
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Name of feed Season Nutritional Characteristics
material availability
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Mahuva flower April/May Rich in energy
Pods of Acacia March/April Rich in energy & Protein
& Prosopis
Leaves of April/May Rich in protein
Ziziphus
Leaves of Prosopis March-May Rich in protein & Minerals
cinereria
Leaves and pod October/ Rich in protein and Minerals
covers of Pulses March/April
and Oil seed
crops
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FEED PROCESSING - TRADITIONAL METHODS AND ADOPTION
OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
Studies on traditional systems revealed that processing of feeds,
although projected as a new approach has always been used by the
livestock owners. They have devised and adopted processing methods
found to be useful for feeding management as well as animal
productivity. The processing work is usually done by women. Some of
these methods have been studied and found to be scientifically
sound and beneficially effective (Rangnekar 1993).
The commonly processed materials are a mixture of concentrates and
roughages like wheat straw, pulse pods and maize cobs, which are
mixed and cooked on low heat for a couple of hours. In maize
growing areas it is a common practice to cook maize cobs mixed with
Tamarind, salt, brans and sometime cereals. Another commonly used
material is cotton seed where cooking does have beneficial effect.
Soaking the feed for a few hours or sometimes over-night is another
common practice. Soaking reduces dustiness, prevents wastage and
improves intake.
The women were also found to be innovative in the adoption of new
technologies. In the BAIF project, while on-farm trials with urea
treatment of cereal straws were in progress, there was need to find
out simple methods for measuring water and ensuring uniform
spraying of urea solutions. The women farmers devised simple ways
of overcoming this problem. In some areas they started making use
of used oil cans which had fixed volumes and the water could be
measured easily. The bottom of the can was perforated for ease of
spraying. In other villages they used water buckets, which also had
fixed volumes and spraying was done with the help of broom sticks.
The result of the on-farm trials showed that the treatment was
effective since the spraying was uniform. The experience clearly
indicates that the ingenuity of women could be effectively utilized
when taking a participatory approach to development or to the
introduction of beneficial technologies.
PARTITIONING OF FEEDS
Availability of good quality feeds and fodders is always a
constraint in rain-fed and under-developed areas. Feeding accounts
for almost 70% of the cost of livestock production. While farmers
are usually blamed for keeping an unnecessarily large number of
animals (many of which are considered unproductive and who eat away
the feed which would have been available for productive animals),
a critical look at the practices adopted by the farmers,
particularly the women, indicates that through experience they have
developed effective ways of optimising utilization of available
feed resources. A few examples of strategies that partition
available feed resources for optimal use will be described to
illustrate the ingenuity of farmers.
Cereal straws are the staple feed for livestock in India and a
major source of bulk and energy. The farmers are aware of variation
in digestibility and nutrient availability between the varieties
and parts of the plant. In western India it is a common practice to
offer sorghum straw, which is known to be of superior quality, as
a whole plant. The animal eats by preference the more nutritious
parts (leaves and upper portion) and the remainder of the plant,
the main stem or stubble, is left over and offered to non-producing
animals.
The milch buffalo, the main dairy animal in India till recently, is
usually stall fed. Available concentrates and good quality fodder
are offered to these animals. High producing animals, recently
calved animals, or those in late pregnancy are offered special
supplementary feeds like edible oil, jaggery, grains and oil cake.
Materials like cotton seed, cotton seed cake, copra cake, and rice
polishings were recognized historically as beneficial and have been
traditionally used for buffaloes or high producing cows.
Researchers have realized their value as a source of undegradable
protein only recently.
These practices are clearly indicative of the farmers' wisdom and
show that their approaches are exercises of resource optimization.
Hence before we criticize them for resistance to change or try to
forcefully introduce systems according to our own thinking, it is
essential to critically study the traditional practices. It is
possible to find solutions to many constraints from the farmer
themselves and particularly from women (especially about the
feeding of livestock). For effective extension work and the
effective use of farmer's experience and knowledge, it is necessary
to establish rapport, to socialize with the farmers and to learn
from them. Many women farmers can be effective resource persons and
extension agents. An initial attempt at developing a small group of
young women in a few villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan to work as
facilitators was very encouraging (Rangnekar 1992).
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