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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: NIsha Valsan × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2007 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic divergence in rabbits used for breeding in Kerala
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) NIsha Valsan; KAU; Bindhu, K A
    The genetic divergence among three breeds of rabbit, viz. Newzealand White, Soviet Chinchilla and Grey Giant was studied using microsatellite markers. A set of twelve microsatellite markers were tested, out of which three markers (Sol 03, Sol 33 and Sol 44) were selected based on their polymorphism. The PCR products were separated by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiographed. The Sol 03 locus was found to be the most polymorphic with fourteen alleles in the pooled population. The values for heterozygosity and PIC in Newzealand White at the Sol 03 locus were recorded as 0.840 and 0.836, in Soviet Chinchilla as 0.766 and 0.764, while in Grey Giant, the heterozygosity and PIC values stood at 0.775 and 0.765, respectively. Eight alleles were detected at the Sol 33 locus. The maximum values for heterozygosity (0.858) and PIC (0.854) were observed in Grey Giant while Newzealand White (0.672 and 0.667, respectively) recorded the lowest. In Soviet Chinchilla, values for heterozygosity and PIC were 0.691 and 0.680 respectively. with mean heterozygosity and PIC values of 0.740 and 0.764. Sol 44 locus revealed four alleles. The highest values for heterozygosity (0.728) and PIC (0.702) at the Sol 44 locus were recorded in Grey Giant, while the lowest (0.567 and 0.477) in Soviet Chinchilla. The heterozygosity and PIC values were 0.586 and 0.502, respectively in Newzealand White. The genetic distance was calculated based on Nei’s formula, and the highest value was noticed between Soviet Chinchilla and Grey Giant (0.6942) while the lowest between Newzealand White and Soviet Chinchilla (0.2022). The dendrogram constructed using POPGENE program grouped Newzealand White and Soviet Chinchilla in one cluster indicating their closer relationship. Grey Giant was found to be the most widely separated breed.