Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

1994 - 199912000 - 20091
Reset filters
Subject: Animal Nutrition × Author: Shyama, K × End date: 2009 × Type: Thesis ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of dried spleen as growth stimulator in kid rations
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1994) Shyama, K; KAU; James, C S
    An investigation was carried out to assess the effect of dried spleen as a growth promotant in kid rations. Twenty four female Malabari kids with an average body weight of 8.5 kg were distributed randomly and as uniformly as possible into four groups (groups 1, 11, 111 and IV) of six animals each, with regard to age and weight. The four dietary treatments A, B, C and D were allotted to the kids in the groups 1, 11, 111 and IV respectively, ration A with a concentrate mixture containing 16 per cent crude protein supplemented with dried buffalo spleen at the rate of 0.1 per cent, ration B forming the control diet at 16 per cent protein level without incorporation of spleen, ration C with a concentrate mixture containing 12 per cent crude protein supplemented with dried buffalo spleen at the rate of 0.1 per cent, ration D forming the control diet at 12 per cent protein level. Jack leaves formed the sole source of roughage to the animals. The experimental duration was 120 days. The results indicated that incorporation of dried spleen in the ration enhanced the growth performance of animals, especially in animals maintained on low level of protein, as evidenced by the cumulative and average daily weight gain registered in that descending order being 7.52 kg and 62.64 g, 7.4 kg and 61.67 g, 6.88 kg and 57.36 g and 5.00 kg and 41.67 g for the animals maintained on rations C, A, B and D respectively. The efficiency of feed and protein utilisation also exhibited the same trend. It was also noticed that, a cost of production per kilogram gain of Rs.32.58 and 26.14 were registered for animals maintained on spleen incorporated rations (rations A and C) as against Rs.35.08 and 38.63 respectively for the animals maintained on corresponding control groups (ration B and D) indicating a better cost efficiency in spleen incorporated groups, especially in animals maintained on low level of crude protein in the ration. The haematological studies reveal that R.B.C., W. B. C., haemoglobin, plasma protein, plasma calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were within the normal range prescribed for the species. The animals maintained on ration C showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) in plasma calcium level when compared to that of the control. Digestibility studies reveal no significant difference in digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen free extract between the four groups. Animals maintained on the spleen incorporated rations (groups 1 and 111) showed better digestibility (P < 0.01) of crude protein and ether extract than the respective control groups (groups 11 and IV). Incorporation of dried spleen could not bringforth any influence on fibre digestion. The results of the balance experiment showed better retention of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the animals maintained on spleen incorporated diets. The higher retention of these parameters could be substantiated by the comparatively lower faecal and urinary excretion of these, in animals maintained on spleen incorporated rations (rations A and C). An overall assessment of the results, indicated that incorporation of dried buffalo spleen in the ration of goats, at the rate of 0.1 per cent, certainly augment the nutrient utilisation by increasing the digestibility and retention, and can be recommended as a harmless natural growth promotant with economic benefit.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Phytase supplementation on the availability of different minerals and their interactions in pigs
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Shyama, K; KAU; Mercy, A D
    Two feeding experiments were conducted using 100 weaned piglets to study the effect of dietary supplementation of calcium, phosphorus and phytase in different levels and their interactions on growth, nutrient digestibility, mineral availability and blood and bone mineral profile. In experiment one, sixty four weaned Large White Yorkshire x Desi piglets (32 castrated male and 32 female) belonging to the Centre for Pig Production and Research, Mannuthy were used as experimental animals. All animals were dewormed before the start of the experiment. The piglets were divided into eight groups as uniformly as possible with regard to age, sex and weight. Piglets of each group were allotted randomly into four pens with two piglets in each pen. Piglets in each replicate were maintained under identical management conditions throughout the experimental period of 88 days. Restricted feeding was followed throughout the experimental period and daily feed intake was recorded. Clean drinking water was provided ad libitum in all the pens throughout the experimental period. The animals were fed with standard grower ration with 18 per cent CP and 3200 kcal of ME/kg of feed up to 50 kg body weight and finisher ration with 16 per cent CP and 3200 kcal of ME /kg of feed from 50 kg body weight. Eight dietary treatments with two levels of calcium (0.6 and 1 per cent) and two levels of phosphorus (0.3 and 0.6 per cent) were used with phytase (750 units /kg) and without phytase in a 2x2x2 factorial completely randomized design. The pigs were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and later on at fortnightly intervals. Blood samples were collected at the beginning and on 85th day of the experiment and a digestibility trial was conducted at the end of the experiment to determine the digestibility of nutrients and percentage availability of minerals of the experimental diets by total collection method. The results of the first experiment indicated that the levels of Ca, P and phytase had no effect on average daily gain, feed efficiency and DM intake among pigs reared under the eight dietary treatments, while there was significant interaction between Ca x P (P<0.05) and Ca x phytase (P<0.01) on DM intake. The level of Ca and P and Ca x P x phytase interactions were significant for DM digestibility which resulted in lower DM digestibility for rations T3, T5 and T7 than that of other rations. Dietary levels of P and interaction between Ca x P (P<0.01) and Ca x phytase (P<0.05) were significant for EE digestibility. Hence rations T7 and T8 had lower (P<0.01) EE digestibility than the rest of the experimental rations. Crude fibre digestibility was affected by phytase and P x phytase interaction. Calcium availability was higher (P<0.01) in all phytase supplemented rations. Significant interactions between dietary Ca x phytase (P<0.01) and dietary P x phytase (P<0.05) were observed for Ca availability. Interactions between dietary levels of Ca x P (P<0.05) and Ca x phytase (P< 0.05) were found significant for availability of Cu and Mn respectively. Data on blood samples collected on 85th day revealed that phytase supplementation had significant effect (P< 0.01) on the plasma Ca levels of the animals fed the eight dietary treatments. The interaction between dietary Ca x P levels was also found significant (P< 0.01) for plasma Ca. Dietary levels of both Ca (P< 0.01) and P and interaction between Ca x P (P< 0.01), Ca x phytase and P x phytase (P<0.01) were found to affect plasma P significantly. In case of plasma Zn dietary Ca was having significant (P< 0.01) effect and the interactions between dietary Ca x P (P<0.01), Ca x phytase (P<0.05) and P x phytase (P<0.01) were also found significant. Dietary Ca, P and phytase levels had significant (P<0.05) effect on the plasma ALP activity. Cost of feed per kg body weight gain of pigs was lowest for ration T1. Ration T1 with low Ca, low P and without phytase gave similar growth and feed efficiency with lowest cost of production compared to the other rations and thus T1 was taken as the control ration for the second experiment. The second feeding experiment was conducted for 114 days using 36 weaned Large White Yorkshire x Desi weaned piglets (18 castrated males and 18 females) belonging to the Centre for Pig Production and Research, Mannuthy and the animals were randomly allotted to the three dietary treatments, T1- Control ration containing 0.6 per cent calcium and 0.3 per cent phosphorus, T2 -Control ration without any mineral supplements and with 750 units of phytase/kg feed and T3 - Control ration without phytase and mineral supplementation. A digestibility experiment was conducted to determine the digestibility of nutrients and availability of minerals. Blood samples were collected before the start of the experiment and on 16th week. Radiological examination of femur and mandibles of the representative animals of three groups at the end of the study were done. All the male animals were slaughtered on attaining slaughter weight of 70 kg and the data on dressing percentage, loin eye area, back fat thickness, weight of internal organs were collected. Photograph of rib bone was taken during slaughter and bone ash percentage, bone calcium and bone phosphorus were estimated. Kidney samples were examined histologically to assess pathological changes, if any, due to the experimental rations. Body weight of pigs belonging to T2 (phytase supplemented ration) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of T3 in fortnights 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, while the difference between that of T1 and T2 were non significant in all the fortnights. There was no difference in feed efficiency and digestibility of nutrients among pigs reared under the three dietary treatments. The availability of Ca, P and Mn for T2 ration was higher than that of the control ration while the Mg availability was lower for T2 and T3 than that of T1. Zinc availability was lower for T3 than that of T1 ration. Dressing percentage was lower (P<0.01) for T2 and T3 than that of control and loin eye area was lower (P<0.05) for T3 than that of T1 and T2. There was no gross abnormality of femur and mandible on x-ray examination of pigs reared on three experimental rations. Histopathological examinations of kidney samples also were normal for pigs of T1 and T2 and T3. However ricketty beads were seen on ends of ribs on carcass evaluation, in pigs reared under T3. The bone ash content was also lower (P<0.01) for animals fed ration T3 than that of T1 and T2. Thus feeding ration without any mineral supplementation showed deleterious effects on growth, mineral availability and bone ash content, but supplementation of phytase improved utilization of nutrients and minerals than that of T3 during the period of 114 days of the experiment. Feed cost /kg gain of T1 pigs was higher than that of T2 (P< 0.01) and T3 (P< 0.05). But the difference in the cost of production between T2 and T3 were non significant (P>0.05). It can be concluded that phytase supplementation of rations resulted in decreased feed cost / kg gain.