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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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1988 - 19892
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Subject: Animal Genetics and Breeding × End date: 1989 × Start date: 1988 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Chromosome profile of zebu x taurus cattle in Kerala
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1988) Raghunandanan, K V; KAU; Mukundan, G
    A study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the chromosomal status of Local non – descript, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle and to assess the incidence of chromosomal aberrations causing physiological disorders. The cattle owned by Kerala Agricultural University. Indo – Swiss Project and farmers formed the material for the study. In all, 102 animals consisting of 71 normal and 31 abnormal, were subjected to the study. Peripheral blood leukocyte culture technique with heparinised whole blood was used for chromosome analysis. The medium was TC 199 with phytohaemagglutinin M as mitotic inducer and colchicine as mitotic arrester. The cells in metaphase were harvested and air dried smears stained with Giemsa. Good spreads were photographed and karyotypes prepared. The efficiency of medium was tested using mitotic drive and mitotic index, which were between 32 to 33 per cent and 5 to 6 per cent respectively. Colchicine treatment of 0.1 ml (0.0001%) for 1 hour yielded clear visible chromosome spreads. The blood samples stored for varying time at 50C indicated that the whole blood transported in ice bath (50 C) is to be used within 12 hours after collection for lymphocyte culture. In normal cattle, diploid chromosome number was found to be 2n = 60 with 29 pairs of autosomes and one pair sex chromosome. The males were heterogametic. All the autosomes were acrocentric in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Friesian and Jersey whereas the x chromosome was biarmed and a large submetacentric in all the genetic groups. The Y chromosome was polymorphic being acrocentric in Local and submetacentric in exotic bulls. No satellite was observed in any of the chromosomes. The relative length of largest and smallest autosomes were 6.5080 and 1.3473 per cent in Local, 6.4735 and 1.2250 per cent in half – bred Jersey, 6.2190 and 1.3788 per cent in half – bred Friesian and 6.9125 and 1.3096 per cent in Jersey respectively. The difference in relative length of autosomes between different genetic groups was not found to be significant. The relative length of x chromosome was 7.2838 per cent, 7.0313 per cent, 6.5138 per cent and 6.3166 per cent in Local, half – bred Jersey, half - bred Friesian and pure Jersey respectively. The differences between genetic groups were significant. In the karyotypic array based on relative length, the x chromosome occupied a first position in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Friesian whereas in Jersey it was in between first and second pair of autosomes. The relative length of Y chromosome was 2.9415 per cent, 2.5745 per cent and 2.9375 per cent in Local, Jersey and Holstein Friesian respectively. The difference Local and Holstein Friesian was not significant. In karyological array the Y chromosome occupied a position between 15th and 16th pair of autosomes in Local and Holstein Friesian whereas in Jersey it was between 15th and 20th pair. The arm ratio of x chromosome was 2.043, 1.986, 1.739 and 1.690 in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Friesian and Jersey respectively. In Local cattle the centromere was located away from mid point compared to other genetic groups. The distance between mid point and centromere was lowest in Jersey. The arm ratio of Y chromosome of Jersey and Holstein Friesian was 1.21 and 1.66 respectively. The location of centromere in Y chromosome of Jersey was more towards centre than that of Holstein Friesian. The centromere index of x chromosome was 0.365, 0.329, 0.338 and 0.372 in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Holstein Friesian and Jersey respectively. The values for the centromere index confirm the findings obtained for arm ratio with regard to the proximity of centromere to the mid point of the chromosome. Among the 31 abnormal cattle, chromosomal aberration were observed in one 4 ½ years old sterile Jersey heifer, one Free martin and one Local bullock with abnormally developed secondary sexual characters. Infertile cattle showing repeat breeding, poor semen quality and poor libido did not exhibit any aberration. In the sterile Jersey heifer, 59/60 mosaicism was observed. The Free martin exhibited 60 XX/60 XY chimaerism having 14 per cent of the cells with XY type and others with XX type. The local bullock revealed abnormal development of teats and secretion of milky fluid. The mitotic spreads were of tetraploid nature (4n = 120) in 4.5 per cent cells and the diploid (2n = 60) in others. This animal was diploid tetraploid chimaera or mixoploid. The present study brought out findings that relative length, position in the karyotypic array, arm ratio and centromere index of sex chromosomes shall serve as tool for identification of inter – breed differences and that the occurrence of tetraploidy stimulate the activity of the female secondary sexual characteristics in male cattle.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Blood group and biochemical polymorphism in the Malabari breed of goat and its exotic crosses
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1989) Nandakumaran, P; KAU; Mukundan, G
    Realising the importance of blood groups and biochemical polymorphism in livestock improvement a study was undertaken in 305 adult goats of Malabari breed and its exotic crosses viz. Saanen x Malabari and Alpine x Malabari, to identify the blood group factors and polymorphism, if any, at haemoglobin, potassium and erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) loci and their utility as genetic markers for selection. Standard haemolytic test and absorption technique were performed to produce monovalent reagents and to type the goats. The different haemoglobin types were detected employing horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. The potassium concentration in whole blood and the GSH concentration in erythrocytes were estimated by Flamephotometry and Spectrophotmetry respectively. Twelve blood group reagents M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, M10, M11 and M12 were produced during the present study from the nineteen polyvalent goat sera obtained from Switzerland. The phenotypic frequencies of different blood group factors were different from each other among the three genetic groups. The blood group factors M4, M10 and M12 were not observed in the Malabari goats. In electrophoretic separation, 94 per cent of the goats showed only one haemoglobin band (HbAA) and six per cent showed two bands (HbAB). HbBB was not observed in any of the genetic groups. Inheritance pattern of Hb alleles revealed that they inherit as autosomal co-dominant alleles. The frequency of HbA allele was 0.98 in Malabari and Saanen x Malabari and 0.97 in Alpine x Malabari, the difference being non significant. It was observed that the goat populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with respect to the haemoglobin locus. The genetic group had no effect on the concentration of whole blood potassium. The frequency distribution of potassium concentration in the pooled population showed a distinct bimodality, on the basis of which the goats were classified into two distinct types viz. LK ( < 22 meq/1) and HK ( > 22 meq/1). 76.39 per cent of the pooled population were the LK type, a situation not reported in Indian goats. The potassium phenotypes are controlled by two autosomal alleles, KL (determining LK) and KH (determining HK), the KL being dominant over KH. The gene frequencies of KL and KH were 0.53 and 0.47 in Malabari, 0.50 and 0.50 in Saanen x Malabari and 0.52 and 0.48 in Alpine x Malabari, the difference among the three genetic groups being non significant. The genetic groups had significant effect on the potassium concentration in LK type goats, but such effect was not noticed in HK type goats. The genetic groups had significant effect on the erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) concentration. The frequency distribution of GSH concentration in the pooled population revealed a bimodality. Goats with GSH concentration of > 60 mg/100 ml RBC were classified as GSH-high type and those with < 60 mg/100 ml RBC were classified as GSH-low type. The frequency percentage of GSH-high type in the pooled population was 85.26. Among the three genetic groups, Alpine x Malabari had the highest frequency of 88.48 per cent and Malabari had the lowest frequency of 76.56 per cent. Inheritance pattern of GSH phenotypes showed that in goats GSH types are controlled by two autosomal alleles GSHH (determining GSH-high type) and GSHh (determining GSH-low type), the GSHH being dominant over GSHh. The frequencies of GSHH and GSHh were 0.51 and 0.49 in Malabari, 0.62 and 0.38 in Saanen x Malabari and 0.66 and 0.34 in Alpine x Malabari, without any significant differences among the genetic groups. The frequencies of potassium and GSH alleles and also their concentration did not change over the two generation in any of the genetic groups except in Saanen x Malabari, wherein the mean GSH concentration GSH-high type goats of third generation was significantly higher than that of the second generation. Sex did not influence the concentration of potassium and GSH. A valid conclusion could not be drawn on the effect of sire on the potassium and GSH concentration in its offspring. Studies revealed that haemoglobin, potassium and GSH were not genetically associated. Haemoglobin type had no effect on packed cell volume and concentration of potassium and GSH. The LK type goats had significantly higher packed cell volume in all the genetic groups. The potassium type had no effect on the concentration of GSH in the crossbred goats but in Malabari the HK types had significantly higher concentration in GSH than that of LK types. Goats with HbAA phenotype had heavier body weight at different ages when compared to that of HbAB type. However, the differences was significantly only for the weight at one year in Malabari and weight at nine months in crossbreds. Haemoglobin type had no effect on the production traits. In general, the growth and production traits were not seen influenced by the potassium and GSH types.