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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: Bindu Mathew × Author: KAU × End date: 2008 × Start date: 2000 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Growth and survivability of GH/Msp I genotypes in malabari goats
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Bindu Mathew; KAU; Raghavan, K C
    etc. Growth hormone gene, due to its essential role in lactation and growth processes, is a perfect candidate marker associated with somatotropic axis. Selection of animals based on the growth hormone genotypes can be introduced in the animal husbandry sector for better production. The present investigation was undertaken to study the growth and survivability of GH/MspI genotypes in Malabari goats at different centers of Badagara, Thalassery, Thanur as well as Malabari conservation unit, Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode. DNA was isolated from 32 bucks, 241 does mated to those bucks and 297 of their progeny using phenol - chloroform extraction method. A 768-bp fragment from third exon to fifth exon containing the polymorphic Msp1 site was amplified well using bovine primers, indicating species homology. The amplified product on digestion with the Msp1 enzyme revealed the GH/Msp1 (+) and (-) alleles. The percentage of incidence of (+/-) genotype was 61.76 and that of (+/+) genotype was 38.24. None of the animals typed were of the GH/Msp1 (-/-) genotype. The genotype frequencies of bucks and does were consistent with the general population. In the specific heterozygous mating (+/- x +/-), 28 per cent of the progenies were (+/+) homozygotes and the rest 72 per cent were heterozygotes (+/-). Early embryonic mortality was not found to be a cause for the absence of the GH/Msp1 -/- genotype as the kidding percentage in heterozygous mating were not different from other types of matings. There was no relationship between growth upto six months of age and GH/Msp1 genotypes. The study confirms a strong heterozygotic advantage for the GH/Msp1 +/- genotype and also the absence of GH/Msp1 -/- genotype in Malabari goats. Presence of duplicate copies of the growth hormone gene in goats may be a possible reason for the above results.