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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 Husbandry × End date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative study on the feed utilisation of local and cross bred cows
    (Department of Animal Husbandary, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1975) Chacko, C T; KAU; Subramanyam, M
    A comparison of the feed utilisation efficiency between Sindhi and Sindhi x Jersey cross bred lactating cows of the University livestock farm was made. Six cows each from the two groups were paired on the basis of the lactation number and stage of lactation. The animals were stall fed for 76 days including a pre – trial period of 15 days. The ration consisted of a concentrate feed and guinea grass to meet the protein requirement and paddy straw ad libitum. The following observations were recorded for individual cows: i) daily intake of different food ingredients; ii) daily milk yield ; iii) daily out put of dung; iv) body weight and body measurements during the pre – trial period, commencement, middle and close of the experiment; v) percentage of butter fat and total solids of individual composite samples tested once in a week; and vi) calculation of gross efficiency of feed utilisation. The following inference could be drawn: 1. The total dry matter consumption by the Sindhi and the cross bred cows were 3.30 kg and 3.61 kg per 100 kg body weight respectively and the dry matter consumption from roughage alone was 2.04 kg and 2.10 kg respectively. 2. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein and nitrogen free extract were higher for the cross breds and in straight breds it was higher for crude fibre. For ether extract the digestibility coefficient was the same in both the groups. 3. The straight bred cows gained weight and increased in heart girth significantly (P < 0.01) during the experimental period, but no significant weight gain was recorded in cross breds. The increase in heart girth was significant (P < 0.05) among cross breds. The height at withers and body length did not increase significantly in the two groups. 4. The average daily 4% fat corrected milk yields were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in the cross breds. No significant difference was noticed between the two groups in the percentages of fat and total solids in milk. 5. The average gross efficiency of feed utilisation for milk production was 24.65 in cross breds and it was 18.62 in straight breds indicating that the cross breds were superior to the straight bred in the utilisation of feeds for milk production.