The developmental levels of Zanjan province townships according to animal husbandry indicators

Agriculture sector in Iran and some other countries of the world has a vital role in national development. Animal husbandry sub-sector needed meat of the society, creating related jobs and producing raw materials of some industries. Acquiring scientific and sound information of the current situation of regions are important and imitative step in improvement program planning. The purpose of this descriptive-evaluative study was to study of developmental levels of Townships of Zanjan province according to animal husbandry indicators. Secondary data (published and on the web data of related organization) and field data (by filling checklist from related organization) for 48 indicators (extracted from reviewing literature review and interviewing with rural extension and development and animal science experts) were used. Data units were omitted by dividing them to their average and then weighed by Mc Granahan method. The descriptive tables of indicators were added to geographical layers of townships in ArcGis 9.The results revealed that based on composite index (CI), Zanjan, Abhar, Khoramdareh, Ijroud, Tarom, Mahneshan and Khodabandeh townships were ranked respectively from first to seventh level. Also Townships of Zanjan province were ranked based on seven sub-indices, named as breeding and production management, livestock insurance management, related industries (processing, dairy industries, and slaughterhouses), private sector services, public sector services, infrastructural, human resources and extension-education. Based on the findings, some recommendations to improve animal husbandry sector in the province have been suggested.