Abstract
Introduction
Rural women and men, depending on their region and expertise in various livestock farming practices, often possess specialized knowledge about different aspects of animal husbandry. However, women's access to adequate knowledge, improved technologies, financial services, and other social services remains a significant challenge. The livestock sector is predominantly growing, with small-scale production systems contributing to livelihood development and increasing GDP. Women, as the primary users of local livestock breeds, play a central role in managing animal resources, and therefore, the conservation of these resources is closely linked to them. Despite their fundamental role in managing livestock assets, women typically have limited access to markets and play a restricted role in the commercialization of livestock and livestock products. Moreover, they have minimal access to technologies, training, and extension services. In many rural areas where strict cultural and social norms prevail, women are often excluded from the decision-making process. Another major challenge is their limited access to financial services, which is influenced by various factors.
In some communities, women keep livestock for non-productive purposes, mainly due to cultural expectations, whereas in others, livestock is used for food security, safety, and income generation—reasons that are more production-oriented. However, non-productive reasons often outweigh the productive ones, posing a challenge to the development of the livestock sector.
Materials and Methods
 The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of type and nature. Data collection was conducted using both documentary and field methods. The research tool was a researcher-developed questionnaire, whose validity was refined, confirmed, and completed through expert opinions from professors and specialists in the field. To determine reliability, a sample of 30 questionnaires was tested, and composite indices of attitude were evaluated. The questionnaire was designed in three sections: perception, awareness, and attitude, to measure attitudes. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated for each section, yielding values of 0.67 for perception, 0.71 for awareness, and 0.74 for attitude, indicating the suitability of the composite indices. The questionnaire was designed based on a Likert scale, and reverse-scored questions were adjusted during data analysis.
The statistical population of this research included all women engaged in livestock farming in Karun County. Initially, preliminary statistics for each village were obtained through the Karun County Agricultural Jihad Organization, from which the number of livestock-owning households was calculated and their distribution across villages assessed. From a total of 1,003 livestock-keeping individuals, a sample size of 278 was determined using Cochran’s formula. Due to the vastness of the study area, participants were randomly selected from 16 villages across different rural districts. One or two individuals (mother, daughter-in-law, or daughter of the household) were selected from each household. Data analysis was conducted using mean, standard deviation, correlation coefficient, and regression techniques in SPSS 26.
Results and Discussion
The results indicate that approximately 67% of rural women in Karun County have a positive attitude toward livestock activities, while the rest are either indifferent or, in rare cases, hold a negative or entirely negative view of livestock farming. The findings suggest that women have a high level of perception regarding livestock activities and their necessity, as well as the lack of resources and training, even though they may not possess sufficient knowledge and awareness in these areas. Notably, women's perception of livestock farming ranked as the top priority within their attitude.
Despite their own experiences in livestock farming, rural women welcomed modern training programs, the enhancement of livestock farming activities through new and suitable facilities, and access to appropriate spaces for animal husbandry. The research findings revealed that, in some cases, women had taken personal initiatives in this regard but did not consider them sufficient. Additionally, the results highlighted a strong interest among rural women in receiving livestock farming training, yet no organization had undertaken any measures to provide such education. Pearson correlation results indicate that the lack of appropriate actions by relevant organizations and institutions could negatively impact women's attitudes toward livestock farming. In the section addressing independent variables related to women's attitudes, factors such as limited resources, inadequate training, and other constraints (such as separating livestock living spaces from human residences) were identified as key contributors to declining hygiene levels and increased health risks for women in livestock farming. Rural women believed that appropriate spaces and facilities could positively influence the attitudes of livestock farmers in general and female livestock farmers in particular.
Furthermore, rural women’s attitude toward the social status of livestock farming as a profession was not positive from a societal perspective. Despite their favorable view of livestock farming as an occupation, most women actively engaged in this field believed that livestock farming does not hold an acceptable social status within the community and has not received the level of public respect it deserves.
Conclusions
Livestock farming, like many other activities, has not been and will not be free from challenges and difficulties. The accumulation of these challenges can undoubtedly be among the reasons for the declining interest and motivation of livestock farmers in general and female livestock farmers in particular. In Karun County, where livestock farming is primarily practiced for subsistence, professional livestock farmers who lack land have no other means of livelihood besides this activity. Therefore, it is essential to take measures to prevent a decline in motivation and to improve livestock farmers' perception of this profession.