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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 × Start date: 2001 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Association of bodyweight and milk production in Vechur and other dwarf desi cattle of Kerala
    (Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2001) Bindya, Liz Abraham; KAU; Sosamma, Iype
    The present work is a study on the association between body weights, lactation milk yield and age at first calving in Vechur and other dwarf desi cattle maintained at Kerala Agricultural University. This information can be utilized in the selection programme to evolve a small cow weighing around 125kg and yielding 800 kg milk per lactation. The average body weights at birth, three, six, nine, twelve months and at adult stage for males of Vechur were 11.2 ± 0.2 kg, 28.7 ± 0.7 kg, 44.2 ± 0.8kg, 63.9 ± 4.0 kg, 76.1 ± 1.9 kg, 173.6 ± 6.9 kg and those for Kasargod, 11.1 ± 0.3 kg, 33.5 ± 3.0 kg, 49.5 ± 4.6 kg, 80.4 ± 6.8 kg, 86.8 ± 11.2 kg and 194?"3 ± 19.9 kg respectively. The corresponding estimates for females of Vechur were 10.2 ± 0.2 kg, 28.3 ± 0.7 kg, 43.3 ± 0.8 kg 52.7 ± 1.3 kg, 69.5 ± 1.2 kg and 138.5 ± 2.3 kg and those for Kasargod, 9.5 ± 0.4 kg, 29.1 ± 1.8 kg, 49.5 ± 2.7 kg, 54.3 ± 3.0 kg, 61.1 ± 3.8 kg and 147.7 ± 5.1 kg respectively. The average gain in weight for the four periods i.e., months 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9 -6;12 when expressed as a percentage of initial weight for males of Vechur were 149.0, 54.7, 39.7, 25.3 and those for Kasargod, 198.4, 62.5, 59.5, 17.0 per cent respectively. The corresponding estimates for the females of Vechur were 178.1, 55,8, 31.8, 27.1 and those for Kasargod, 169.1, 58.4, 20.0, 13.3 per cent respectively. Male calves of Vechur gained 6.7 times and those of Kasargod 7.8 times the birth weight by twelve months of age. Males and females differed in body weight only at adult stage. Between breeds, male calves at nine months and female calves at twelve months differed. The average age at first calving and lactation milk yield of Vechur were 1080.3 ± 33.6 and 579.6 ± 35.7 kg and those of Kasargod were 1147.5 ± 68.0 days and 298.3 ± 35.6 kg respectively. The means for milk yield differed significantly. Weight at three months had a heritability of 0.61 and adult body weight, 0.81 in Vechur. The heritability for milk yield and age at first calving were 0.1 and 0.06 respectively. Estimation of phenotypic correlations in Vechur revealed that birth weight had a correlation of 0.446 with twelve months weight. Body weights at the adjacent stages had correlations ranging from 0.36-0.77. Age at first calving had correlation only with weight at nine months (0.668) and milk yield had only with adult body weight (0.406), 11 In Kasargod, body weight at different stages upto 12 . months had correlations around 0.8 but not with adult body weight. Adult body weight and milk yield were found to have a correlation of 0.918. Genetic correlation In Vechur for weight at three months and adult weight was 0.683, but that between adult weight and milk yield was not significant. The annual genetic gain from selection was estimated to be -4.35 kg and 12.968 kg for adult body weight and lactation milk yield respectively. Considering a take off time of five years, it would be possible to achieve the target of 800 kg per lactation from the present 579.5 kg, in a time period of 22 years. Vechur is the smallest breed not only of India, but probably of the wor ld is the highest milk yielder among the very light breeds with the lowest age at first calving among all Indian breeds. Kasargod males have the highest growth rate upto one year among all Indian breeds. The potential of the Vechur cow for milk and the Kasargod bull calf for meat can be advantageously utilized at present and improved with selection in the future.