The knowledge and attitudes of target livestock producers of ewe estrous synchronization model plan in Markazi and Fars provinces

The increase of reproduction performance is one of the critical factors for improving economic achievement and sustaining small and middle scale livestock producing. For this to happen، participatory research and extension programs should be implemented with the help of livestock producers. In the present study، the knowledge and attitudes of target livestock producers of ewe estrous synchronization model plan in Markazi (N=11) and Fars (N=12) provinces were investigated. The data were collected using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The results indicated that producers obtained an average score in the knowledge test. The respondents’ attitudes towards the technology were positive. The main factors preventing the technology to be extended among neighbourhood livestock producers included: lack of attention to some of the advices (e. g.، small number of rams when mating، and inappropriate feeding)، not providing educational programs by organizers، lack of appropriate indicators to choose target producers، and lack of a complementary and tuned relations between educational programs and practice.