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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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2007 - 20083
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Subject: Animal Nutrition × Author: KAU × Start date: 2007 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Energy supplementation on production performance of cows under field condition
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2008) Ruby, Augustian; KAU; Mercy, A D
    A study was conducted to assess the effect of energy supplementation in the form of maize and rumen protected fat in early lactating cows under the field condition. Thirty, early lactating cross bred cows were selected and divided into three groups uniformly with regard to days in milk, the average days in milk being 40 days. The animals were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3. The concentrate mix made in the semi liquid form and paddy straw formed the T1 ration. The animals of T2 and T3 were supplemented with 1 kg ground maize and 100 g of rumen protected fat respectively, over and above the control ration. The animals maintained on the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 showed an average milk production of 15.38, 14.58 and 13.01 kg respectively during the 90 day period of the experiment. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in milk yield between the three treatment groups. The average daily DMI and DMI/100 kg body weight remained similar for all the three groups. The TDN intake was up to the requirement in animals maintained on T3 ration while T1 and T2 rations could not meet the requirements of the animals of the respective groups. The DCP intake was optimum from the three rations. The energy supplementation did not affect milk composition such as percentage of total solids, milk fat, solids not fat (SNF) and milk protein, and milk urea nitrogen (MUN). The 4 per cent FCM yield, total yield of milk fat and protein remained unaffected by energy supplementation. Animals in all the three groups showed similar blood parameters such as haemoglobin, plasma glucose, plasma urea nitrogen and plasma Ca and P. The digestibility of EE, DM, NDF and ADF was higher for the T3 ration than that of T1 and T2. The digestibility of crude protein (CP) was higher for T2 than T1 and T3 rations. Animals maintained on T3 ration showed earlier post partum heat. The cost of feed for producing 1 kg milk was higher for the dietary treatments T2 and T3. An overall assessment of the results obtained in the present study showed that energy supplementation in the form of either maize or rumen protected fat could not influence dry matter intake, milk yield and 4 per cent FCM yield. There was no change in the composition of milk and blood parameters studied, among the experimental animals. However, energy supplementation in the form of protected fat could meet the energy requirement of early lactating animals, improved the digestibility of EE, DM, NDF and ADF and positively influenced the first post partum heat.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Organic chromium supplementation on growth of cross bred pigs
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Ann Nisa, Thomas; KAU; Mercy, A D
    An investigation was carried out with the objective to determine the effect of chromium as chromium propionate on the growth of cross bred pigs and to evaluate the economics of organic chromium supplementation in the ration of cross bred pigs. Twenty four weaned piglets (12 male and 12 female) with an average body weight of 18 kg were used as experimental animals. The piglets were randomly divided into two groups with six replicates of two piglets in each group and were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments T1 (control diet) and T2 (control + 200 ppb chromium). The pigs were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and later on at fortnightly intervals. Blood samples were collected in the beginning and at the end of the experiment for the analysis of various biochemical parameters. Digestion trial was conducted at the end of the experiment to determine the digestibility coefficient of the nutrients of the experimental diets. Animals in the two dietary treatments showed similar (p>0.05) body weight gain, average daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency. There was a numerical increase in dry matter and crude protein digestibility of Cr supplemented ration. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the animals in the two groups for all the blood parameters studied except phosphorus and cholesterol, which were significantly lower (p<0.05) for T2 group. There was non-significant decrease in triglycerides and increase in HDL cholesterol level. The overall critical evaluation of the results obtained in the present study indicate that though supplementation of chromium propionate did not affect the growth or feed conversion efficiency of growing (Large White Yorkshire X Desi) cross bred pigs, it can be beneficially used to improve the lipid profile of the cross bred pigs.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of dietary supplementation of organic chromium in lactating cows
    (Department of Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Hareesh, P S; KAU; Gangadevi, P
    A study was conducted to assess the effect of dietary supplementation of organic chromium on the milk production and metabolic profile of the crossbred cows in early lactation. Twelve healthy crossbred cows having a peak yield of minimum eight litres in their previous lactation were divided into two groups of six each, as uniformly as possible with regard to age, milk yield and parity and were randomly allotted to two dietary treatments, T1 consisting of basal concentrate mixture and paddy straw/ grass as roughage and T2 consisting of basal concentrate mixture supplemented with organic chromium at 2 ppm level as chromium propionate and paddy straw / grass as roughage. All the experimental animals were fed as per ICAR standards (1985) and maintained on their respective feeding regime from the day of calving to 100 days of lactation. Average dry matter intake, body weight, milk yield, milk fat percentage, total solids, solids not fat, haematological parameters viz. haemoglobin, plasma urea nitrogen, serum cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, serum minerals, incidence of metabolic disorders and reproductive performance were the criteria employed for evaluation. Average body weight of animals revealed no significant difference for the both groups during all the fortnight studied. The average daily dry matter intake linearly increased as the lactation progressed in both the groups. Dry matter intake by the animals of T2 was comparatively better than the animals of T1 with a significant increase (P<0.05) during the sixth fortnight. Average daily milk yield increased significantly during the seventh fortnight and for 100 days of lactation in T2 (P<0.05). The animals in T2 maintained the peak yield for a longer duration compared to the T1. There was no significant difference in any of the milk composition parameters between the treatments. The haematological parameters such as haemoglobin, plasma urea nitrogen, serum glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides estimated at the first, seventh and fourteenth week of lactation were not significantly affected by the two dietary treatments. The serum mineral concentrations of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus showed no significant difference while serum chromium levels showed a significant increase (P<0.05) between the two groups in the fourteenth week. The digestibility coefficients of the nutrients viz. dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, nitrogen free extract, acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre were not found to be influenced by the organic chromium supplementation. There was no incidence of metabolic disorders such as hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia and ketosis in both groups of animals. The cows supplemented with organic chromium (T2) showed earlier postpartum heat signs which indicated that the postpartum reproductive performance was influenced by the supplementation. It could be concluded from the results obtained in the present study, that organic chromium supplementation at 2 ppm in the concentrate mixture improved the dry matter intake, total milk production and helped to maintain the peak yield as well as persistency of milk production in early lactating crossbred cows. The study also revealed that the postpartum reproductive performance has also been influenced favourably by the supplementation of organic chromium in crossbred cows