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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 Nutrition × Author: KAU × Author: Subramanian, R × End date: 1996 × Start date: 1995 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of fish meal on growth and feed conversion efficiency in crossbred calves
    (Department of Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Subramanian, R; KAU; Ramachandran, P
    An investigation spread over a period of 126 days was carried out to assess the effect of fish meal in concentrate mixtures of calves for growth. Eighteen crossbred calves of 5-7 months of age and about 70 kg mean initial body weight, divided into three identical groups formed the experimental subjects. The calves in groups I, II and III were maintained on concentrate mixtures containing 0 (diet A) , 5 (diet B) and 10 (diet C) per cent respectively of fish meal along with grass hay fed ad libitum as the sole roughage. Data on body weight and body measurements, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients, haematological values and economics of feeding of the calves were the criteria employed for the evaluation. The intake of DM, CP, DCP and TDN (g/kg metabolic body weight) were not significantly different among the animals in three groups. The digestibility coefficients of crude protein and ether extract were significantly higher in animals of group I than in those of groups II and III. The average daily gain in body weight were 487, 500 and 554 g respectively for the animals in groups I, II and III respectively and the increase in growth response was linearly and positively correlated to the level of fish meal in the diet. Although, body measurements did not reveal any significant difference among the groups, the slightly higher values obtained in group III indicated that calves fed diet containing 10 per cent fish meal had higher skeletal and muscle growth than those fed diets A and B. Highest feed and protein conversion efficiency were shown by calves of group III fed fish meal at 10 per cent level in the diet followed by those in group II and I. Diet C containing 10 per cent fish meal in the concentrate mixture was proved to be most cost effective. Though the haematological parameters did not reveal any significant difference among the groups, the slightly higher value for plasma protein obtained for animals in group III indicated the relatively better nutritional status of animals maintained on diet C over the animals on diet A and B. An overall critical assessment of the results clearly indicated that fish meal can be included in calf ration at 10 per cent level in partial replacement of vegetable protein supplements like groundnut oil cake, with beneficial results in terms of biological and economic efficiency.