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

1980 - 19836
Reset filters
Subject: Animal Genetics and Breeding × End date: 1983 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on certain genetic and nongenetic factors affecting birth weight and growth rate malabari and crossbred goats
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Raghavan, K C; KAU; Krishnan Nair, B R
    The data on 1227 kids belonging to Malabari (309) Saanen x Malabari (389) and Alpine x Malabari (309) genetic groups born and brought up at the All India co – ordinated Research Project on Coats, Kerala Agricultural University, Mannuthy during the period from April 1974 to March 1979 were utilised to study the effects of various genetic and non genetic factors on body weight at different ages. Crossbred goats, S x M and A X M, registered higher weights at birth, at one month, at four months and at one year than the local Malabari goats. District sexual dimorphism in body weights at different ages could be observed in crossbred goats. Litter size significantly affected birth weight and weight at one month. Sason of birth had only non significant influence on weights at birth and that at one month, though the effect was significant on 4 month’s and one year weights. Even though the effect of gestation length undergone by kids was a significant source of variation for weights at birth alone in Saanen x Malabari and Alpine x Malabari kids, the same had significant effect on body weights at birth and at one month in Malabari. Significant effects of dam’s weight at kidding on weights at birth, one month and four months in Malabari ; at birth and a one month in Alpine x Malabari and at birth alone in Saanen x Malabari could be observed. Sire effect was significant on body weights at one month, 4 months and one year in Malabari, at birth and one year in Alpine x Malabari and one year alone in Saanen x Malabari. The growth rate was found to be highest in A x M upto four months of age and afterwards upto one year S X M showed highest rate of gain. The effect of genetic group on growth rate was found to be significant during all the periods of growth. The heritability estimate for weight at birth was near to zero. The h2 estimates were seen getting higher as the age advanced. Genetic correlations between body weights at different ages were found to be fairly high. But the phenotypic correlations between weight at different ages were found to be highly variable. Twins were more than singles in all the genetic groups and the secondary sex ratio was found to be 50:50. The results of the study indicated that crossbreeding of local goats with exotic breeds, Saanen and Alpine, is the desirable breeding plan to accomplish the improvement of body weight in goats, at different ages.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of Lactation Performance of Zebu x Taurus Cattle in Kerala
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1983) Stephan, Mathew; KAU; Mukundhan, G
    An investigation was undertaken to evaluate the lactation performance of the crossbred cattle (Zebu x Taurus) and to compare the performance of Brown Swiss and Jersey crosses under field conditions so that a breeding policy could be recommended. First lactation milk yield in 305 days, age at first calving and first lactation length were the characters studied. For this, data on the Brown Swiss crossbred maintained by the farmers at Mavelikkara and Kattappana and on Jersey crossbreds at Kanjirappally and Chalakudy under the milk recording – cum – progeny testing scheme of the Kerala Livestock Development and Milk Marketing Board were utilized. The observations spread over a period of four years from 1978 to 1981. The uncorrected average first lactation yields were 1508.8 + 14.3 kg in Brown Swiss half – breds, 1562.6 + 28.7 kg in unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, 1380.3 + 47.0 kg in Jersey half – breds and 1558.0 + 31.5 kg in unclassified Jersey crosses. The least squares means of first lactation yields in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half – breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 1482.0 + 19.7 kg, 1544.7 + 32.4 kg, 1359.2 + 57.4 kg and 1559.8 + 37.3 kg respectively. The Duncan’s multiple range test showed that the Jersey half – breds had significantly lower production compared to all other genetic groups. The production of unclassified Jersey crosses had been significantly higher than the Brown Swiss half – breds as well as Jersey half – breds. Least squares analysis on pooled data and Brown Swiss half – breds showed the significant influence of age at first calving, year of calving and sex of the calf on first lactation milk yield. But, season of calving did not significantly influence the milk yield. The uncorrected average age at first calving in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half _ breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 46.0 + 0.4 months, 38.4 + 0.6 months, 41.7 + 1.4 months and 39.5 + 1.2 months respectively. The least squares means of age at first calving in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half – breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 46.0 + 0.5, 38.0 + 0.8, 41.1 + 2.1 and 38.9 + 1.5 months respectively. Brown Swiss half – breds had significantly higher age at first calving compared to the other three groups which were homogenous. The effect of year on age at first calving was not significant in Brown Swiss half – breds while pooled data analysis showed a significant effect of year on age at first calving. The uncorrected average lactation lengths in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half – breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 300.5 + 0.5 days, 299.6 + 1.0 days, 295.6 + 2.4 days and 295.3 + 1.7 days, respectively. This shows that all the crossbreds had fairly good lactation length. Lactation milk yield and age at first calving are economically important to the farmer and in this context these two characters are to be considered together. The results obtained do not indicate the superiority of either Brown Swiss or Jersey crossbreds, over the other. The introduction of both Brown Swiss and Jersey improved the milk production of the cattle of Kerala. While aiming at a further improvement, emphasis should be given to the merit of the sires rather than the specificity of the exotic breed or the percentage of exotic inheritance.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the peak yield and persistency of lactation in crossbred dairy cows
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1980) Girija, C R; KAU; Krishnan, Nair B R
    With the objective of studying the peak yield, persistency, their relation with other production traits and the shape of the lactation curves, the data on the production and reproduction records of 298 Jersey x Zebu and 69 Brown Swiss x Zebu crossbred cows maintained at Livestock farms of Kerala Agricultural University were utilized. Persistency was calculated as a ratio of the yield from the attainment of peak yield to the 305 days yield and the yield upto the peak yield.
  • Thumbnail Image
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Inheritance of chick weight and egg production in white leghorn birds
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Rose Job, T; KAU; Sosamma, Ipe
    A research work was undertaken in two strains of White Leghorn birds to study the inheritance of chick weight and egg production. The birds maintained at the poultry farm under All India Co – ordinated Research Project on Poultry for Eggs, Mannuthy were utilized for the study. The mean values for six – week body weight (g), eight week body weight (g) and egg production upto 280 days of age (number) were 319.4 + 1.4, 452.9 + 1.8 and 71.5 + 0.4 for N strain and 351.2 + 1.7, 513.7 + 2.2 and 80.6 + 0.5 for P strains. Least squares analysis for effect of generations and hatches within generations were carried out. Generation effects were significant for the three characters in both the strains. Effect of hatches within generations were also found to be significant except for egg production in first generation batches and for six – week body weight in second generation hatches in N strain. The data were adjusted for the generation and hatch effects. Adjusted data were used to estimate heritability, genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations. The heritability estimates in N strain were 0.223 + 0.112, 0.642 + 0.078 and 0.433 + 0.099 for six – week body weight 0.278 + 0.108, 0.372 + 0.068 and 0.325 + 0.095 for eight – week body weight and 0.219 + 0.095, 0.379 + 0.077 and 0.298 + 0.095 for egg production based on sire, dam and sire + dam components of variance respectively. The respective estimates in P strain were 0.405 + 0.110, 0.341 + 0.103 and 0.373 + 0.101 for six – week body weight, 0.354 + 0.110, 0.443 + 0.094 and 0.398 + 0.118 for eight – week body weight and 0.530 + 0.102, 0.230 + 0.130 and 0.380 + 0.131 for egg production. The genetic correlation estimates between six – week and eight – week body weight were found to be high and positive in both the strains. The phenotypic correlations were also found to be positive but lower compared to genetic correlation and similar in both the strains. The environmental correlations had also been positive though of still lesser magnitude in both the strains. In general, the correlation estimates between chick weights and egg production were found to be very low in both the strains. The results were not suggestive of any strong relationship between chick weights and egg production. Out of these three characters, only egg production deserved consideration in selection as chick weight in White Leghorns cannot be considered as an economic trait. It was estimated that an improvement of 7.57 eggs per generation could be expected in both the strains for standard deviations of 16.04 and 15.41 and heritabilities of 0.219 and 0.230 in N and P strains respectively, when selection of males is 8.5 per cent and females 16 per cent.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Inheritance of body weight,egg weight and age at first egg in white leghorn birds
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1982) Valsala C, Joseph; KAU; Mukundan, G
    An investigation was carried out to study the inheritance of body weights, age at first egg and egg weight in White Leghorn birds. The data required for the study were collected from two strains of White Leghorns maintained in the Farm under All India Co – ordinated Research Project for Eggs, Mannuthy. The Least squares analysis of variance was carried out to find out the effect of hatches on the traits under study. Since the effect of hatch was significant, the data were adjusted for this effect and utilized to estimate heritability, genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations among body weights and age at first egg. Hatch effect was not significant for egg weight. The averages for body weights (g) at 20 weeks and 40 weeks, age at first egg (days) and egg weight (g) were 1181.5 + 2.8, 1457.0 + 4.0, 166.0 + 0.30 and 51.7 + 0.10 for N strain and 1245.9 + 5.4, 1518.6 + 5.7, 162.1 + 1.1 and 51.7 + 0.10 for P strain respectively. The heritabilities based on sire, dam and sire + dam components of variance were 0.25 + 0.00, 0.36 + 0.01, 0.31 + 0.01, for body weight at 20 weeks; 0.22 + 0.00, 0.50 + 0.03, 0.36 + 0.00 for body weight at 40 weeks; 0.20 + 0.00, 0.22 + 0.03, 0.21 + 0.00 for age at first egg and 0.43 + 0.00, 0.62 + 0.03 and 0.52 + 0.01 for egg weight respectively. In P strain the respective estimates were 0.25 + 0.02, - 0.19 + 0.12 and 0.03 + 0.04 for body weight at 20 weeks; 0.44 + 0.00, 0.27 + 0.04 and 0.35 + 0.02 for body weight at 40 weeks; 0.06 + 0.00, - 0.11 + 0.04 and 0.00 + 0.02 for age at first egg and 0.28 + 0.01, 0.95 + 0.04 and 0.61 + 0.02 for egg weight respectively. The genetic correlations between body weights at 20 weeks and 40 weeks and between body weights and egg weight were positive, between body weights and age at first egg negative and between age at first egg and egg weight positive. Environmental and phenotypic correlations between the traits were generally of low magnitude.