| Women play important role in livestock farming in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A survey was conducted in district Mardan to determine women’s participation in livestock farming and to investigate factors affecting their participation. A multistage sampling method was used to select a sample of 274 livestock farm households from 6 rural Union Councils, and a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from female respondents through face to face interviews. A composite index was constructed to measure the extent of women’s participation, and a linear regression model was used to determine factors affecting women’s involvement in livestock farming. Results reveal that women were mostly involved in almost all farming activities. The average composite index value is 4.81 which indicate that women were on average involved for 4.81 hours per day in livestock farming activities. Regression results show that respondent’s age, experience in livestock farming and education, education of the household head, access to credit, livestock income, tenural status and distance to city significantly affect women’s involvement in livestock farming. Based on these findings the study recommends that significance of women participation to livestock sector must be recognized in government planes and policies. The provision of credit and livestock training facilities to rural women could encourage their participation in livestock farming and provides them decision power in livestock management.

| This study is conducted to find out the cost and net return of milk production in district Mardan. The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting milk production in the study area. A multistage sampling method was used to select a sample of 274 livestock farm households from 6 union councils, and a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the female respondents through face to face interview. Cobb-Douglas production function and cost benefit analysis were used to arrive at the main conclusion. Results show that feed cost was the major component of total cost followed by labor cost. Average milk produced by buffalo and cow was 180 and 135 liters per month, respectively. Average total costs of milk production of buffalo and cow were Rs.12835 and Rs.10070 per month respectively whereas the average net income per liter from the buffalo and cow milk was Rs. 29 and Rs. 5 thus benefit-cost ratios for buffalo and cow is1:1.43 and 1:1.07, respectively, which show buffaloes were more productive and profitable than cows. Results from Cobb-Douglas production function analysis show that dry fodder, green fodder and daily labor hours have positive significant effect on milk production, while herd size has negative significant effect. Furthermore, the addition of estimated coefficients is less than 1, indicating a decreasing return to scale in milk production. These results suggest that small sized dairy farms are more productive and profitable; however, farmers need to utilize each input at its allocatively efficient level in order to get maximum profit.

| This study was carried out in district Mardan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to investigate determinants of welfare of livestock farm households with special reference to women’s participation in livestock farming. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect a sample of 274 livestock farm households from six union councils of district Mardan. Data were collected through face to face interviews from female members of the selected livestock farm households in 2015-16. Data were analyzed by ordered logit model to determine factors affecting households welfare, measured as daily per capita income level. Variables, such as income generating individuals, milking animals, women participation in livestock farming, education level of the head, age of the head and agricultural land holding of the household, were used as explanatory variables in the model. Results of ordered logit model showed that education level of the head, numbers of income generating individuals, land holding, number of milking animals, women involvement in livestock farming, access to agricultural credit had positive significant effects on household’s probability to be in the upper income category. Based on the findings, study recommends that the significance of women participation for growth in livestock industry should be recognized in government plans and policies. Non-government organization, working for rural development, should be involved in provision of credit and livestock training facilities to rural women and encourage them to participate in livestock production and management. Access to credit will empower women in making pertinent livestock management decisions. Success of livestock venture will support rural economy and improve overall well being of everyone involved.