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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of silk worm pupae meal on growth performance in large white yokshire pigs
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Ramamoorthi, S; KAU; Mercy, A D
    An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of silk worm pupae meal, a by-product from sericulture industry, on growth, feed conversion efficiency and economics of production in growing pigs. Twenty seven weaned Large White Yorkshire female piglets with an average body weight of 16 kg were selected from University Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy and were divided into three groups of nine piglets each, as uniformly as possible with regard to their age and body weight. The piglets were then randomly allotted to three pens to form three replicates per treatment. The three groups of piglets were maintained for 90 days on three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets T ir Tj and Tj in which protein from unsalted dried fish was replaced by silk worm pupae meal at 0, 50 and 100 per cent level. The animals maintained under the three dietary treatments T w Ta and T, had almost similar growth rate (P>0.05) with a cumulative average daily gain of 481.4, 510.1 and 495.7g. respectively. The total feed intakes of the animals in different groups were almost similar. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in cumulative feed conversion efficiency between the groups, the values being 3.78, 3.63 and 3.62, respectively, for animals in the dietary treatments Tlt T 2 and T 3. The digestibility coefficients of nutrients except that of ether extract, were slightly higher for the control, ration compared to those with silk worm pupae meal. The cost of production per kilogram live weight gain of pigs maintained on the three dietary treatments, T x, T2 and T3 were Rs. 31.46, 29.19 and 28.20 respectively. Though there was a slight decrease in the cost of production due to incorporation of silk worm pupae meal in place of unsalted dried fish in swine ration, the difference was non significant (P>0.05). The above results indicate that silk worm pupae meal can be effectively included in the diets of growing pigs without affecting growth, feed conversion efficiency and the cost of production.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of complete rations for kids for meat production
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Dildeep, V; KAU; George Mathen
    An investigation was carried out in Malabari kids of three to four months of age to study the influence of animal protein and monensin incorporated in complete pelleted concentrate type diet on the growth of animals. Thirty kids were divided into three equal groups, 1, 2 and 3, and fed on three pelleted complete rations, isocaloric and isoproteimic. Ration 2 incorporated meat cum bone meal and ration 3, fish meal at 5 percentage level replacing gingelly oil cake of ration 1 and fed to respective groups for a period of91 days. Animal protein inclusion did not show any significant positive influence on the growth of kids. No significant growth difference between the male and female animals of the three groups were observed. There was significant increase (Panimal protein, but had no positive influence on other body measurements. Significantly lower (Panimal protein containing diets, which can be attributed to palatability problems. The feed conversion efficiency and nitrogen balance values of kids were not influenced by animal protein inclusion. It also had no influence on digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and nitrogen free extract of the diets. Dressing percentage of kids slaughtered at six months of age in the three groups were almost similar. The gross profit that can be expected from animals of group 2 worked out to be Rs.357.90 compared to Rs.292.06 and Rs.286.20 per animal in group 1 and group 3 respectively for a period of 13 weeks. Histopathological study of the rumen tissues of all the three groups showed rumen papillae that were long and thickened with sparsely distributed keratin deposition indicating distinct parakeratosis, but no clinical symptoms of lactic acidosis were observed. It is possible to maintain kids of three to four months of age profitably on concentrate like complete feeds, supplemented with monensin and sodium bicarbonate for a period not exceeding 91 days.