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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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Subject: Animal Genetics and Breeding × Author: Anilkumar, K × End date: 2002 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic characterisation of buffaloes in Kerala using cytogenetic technique
    (Department Of Animal Breeding And Genetics, College Of Veterinary And Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1991) Anilkumar, K; KAU; Mukundan, G
    Buffaloes from four districts of Kerala formed the materials for this study. Blood samples were collected from external jugular/ear vein, in heparinised tubes. The technique employed was peripheral leukocyte culture technique. Out of the three different mitogens viz., pokeweed mitogen (PWM), phytohemaggultinin (PHA). and a mixture of these two. the mixture of PWM and PHA was found superior in inducing mitosis. A significant interaction between the mitogens and time of addition of mitotic arrester into the medium was observed. The mixture of PWM and PHA at an incubation time of 71 hours was found to produce best results in culture of buffalo lymphocytes followed by PWM at 70 hours. Ideal concentration of colcemid as mitotic arrester in this study was found to be 2 µg and 3 µg per ml of culture media, when the time of action of colcemid was retained for one hour. Out of the 54 animals studied 45 had 2n=50, 5 had 2n=48 and rest 4 had 2n=49. In all the three chromosome types of animals 10 submetacentric chromosomes were observed. The sex chromosomes were similar in all the three types. Number of acrocentric autosomes was 38, 36 and 37 in the three classes respectively. The buffaloes having diploid chromosome number of 49 had two non homologues submetacentric chromosomes, one being the largest of the whole complement and one acrocentric was without a pair. The longest submetacentric autosome of swamp type had a relative length of 6.925+0.152 whereas in river type it had a relative length of 7.228+0.094. The smallest submetacentric autosome was having an average relative length of 4.911+0.118 and 5.05+0.107 in swamp type and river type respectively. Relative lengths of longest acrocentric autosome in swamp type and river type were) 4.953+0.13 and 4.618 + 0.095 respectively. The shortest acrocentric in swamp type showed a relative length of 2.301+0.034 whereas in river type the shortest chromosome had a relative length of 2.064+0.275. The X chromosome was largest acrocentric chromosome of the complement. The Y chromosome was acrocentric and took a position of 22 in descending order based on relative length in the river buffaloes, whereas it occupied 20th position in swamp type. The X chromosome in swamp type had the relative length of 6.228 + 0.099 and that of river type was 6.220+0.136. The Y chromosome of swamp type and river type had relative length of 2.675+0.188 and 2.550+0.095 respectively. In terms of relative length X chromosome occupied fourth position in comparison to submetacentric autosomes of river type, whereas it was third position in swamp type. In swamp buffaloes arm ratio ranged from 1.479+0.055 in fifth to 2.183+0.169 in first submetacentric autosome. In river type the largest arm ratio was 2.289+0.221 in first chromosome and the smallest was 1.542+0.158 in fifth chromosome. The highest centromere index of 40.4+0.9 was obtained for fifth chromosome and the smallest centromere index of 33.2 + 2.1 was for first chromosome of swamp type. In river buffaloes fifth chromosome had a centromere index of 40.4+1.9 and first chromosome had the centromere index of 31.2+2.4. The observation of chromosome polymorphism in buffaloes of Kerala State have to be borne in mind prior to drawing breeding strategies in buffaloes for improved production potential and reproductive efficiency.