Loading...
Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Serum immunoglobulin level in kids and its association with growth and mortality
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1981) Nandakumar, P; KAU; Rajagopala Raja, C A
    Various aspects of transfer of passive immunity from the dam to the kid and its probable associations with various parameters as genetic group type of birth, birth weight, survivability and growth were studied. The sera of neonatal male kids were subjected to Zinc Sulphate turbidity test and the optical density values were converted into Ig concentration (mg/ml) using the prediction equation prepared from known strengths of commercial bovine gammaglobulins. Pre – colostral Ig levels were estimated in five kids. They were then bled at bihourly intervals to locate the post colostral peak. The trend in post colostral serum Ig level and the effect of periods and individuals on it were analysed. Magnitude of peak Ig level was estimated in 51 kids. The trend in serum Ig levels was estimated in ten kids on alternate days during the first week and weekly once thereafter upto eight weeks. The variation due to individuals and periods were analysed. The effect of genetic group on the post colostral peak of serum Ig level were analysed in 20 Saanen x Malabari (SM) 13 Saanen x Saanen – Malabari (SSM) and 12 Sannen x Alpine – Malabari (SAM) kids. The effect of type of birth on post colostral peak level of serum Ig in 12 single kids, 31 twins and 8 triplets were studied. The correlation between birth weight and post colostral peak of serum Ig in 51 kids was estimated. The mean post colostral peak level of serum Ig in kids died within two months was compared to that of population. The percentages of mortality in kids with above and below 70 mg/ml of serum Ig were calculated separately. The correlation between post colostral peak level of serum Ig and weight gain at 56 days was also calculated. The correlation between weekly trend in serum Ig level and the corresponding body weights was calculated. The pre – colostral Ig level ranged between zero and 0.94 mg/ml with a mean of 0.4156 mg/ml. The Ig level rose rapidly in sera and reached a peak level in a mean duration of 17.36 hours, where after that began to decline gradually. The variation between individuals and periods was found significant. The Ig level at the peak ranged between 42.975 and 107.64 mg/ml with a mean of 73.588 mg/ml. The mean Ig level was the highest on the third day. The Ig level declined gradually by 6 – 7 weeks of age reaching a mean level of 25.3279 mg/ml whereafter it began to rise again. There were significant variations in the above trend between individuals and periods. The genetic group had significant effect on the post colostral peak level of serum Ig. The means of Ig level in SM, SAM and SSM kids were, 76.9399 mg/ml, 69.7828 mg/ml and 60.0569 mg/ml respectively. The means of Ig level at the peak was 78.014 mg/ml in single kids, 75.0091 mg/ml in twins and 61.4406 mg/ml in triplets, though the difference were statistically not significant. The positive correlation of 0.2620 noticed between birth weight and post colostral peak level of serum Ig was also not significant. Kids died within two months had significantly lower mean Ig level at the post colostral peak (56.771 mg/ml) than the population mean (73.5881 mg/ml). The mortality rate was 44 per cent in kids with below 70 mg/ml serum Ig and the same was only 3.84 per cent in kids with and above 70 mg/ml of serum Ig. The negative correlation of (- 0.1554) between post colostral peak level of serum Ig and weight gain at 56 days was not significant. The positive correlation of 0.6932 between weekly trend in serum Ig level and body weight during corresponding periods was significant.