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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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20171
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Subject: Animal Physiology × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2013 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessing the differences in body weight changes, rumen fermentation profile and metabolic activity between different indigenous breeds of goats subjected to summer heat stress
    (Academy of Climate Change Education and Research Vellanikkara, 2017) Pragna Prathap; KAU; Sejian, V
    A study was conducted to evaluate the differences in the growth performance and adaptive capabilities of three indigenous goat breeds (Osmanabadi, Malabari and Salem Black) to heat stress challenges. The primary objective of the study was to compare the growth performance and adaptive capacity of two indigenous goat breeds (Malabari and Salem Black) when they were shifted from their native tract to a new agro-ecological zone with the local breed (Osmanabadi) during heat stress exposure. The growth performance of these breeds were assessed based on BW changes, allometric measurements, GH level and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) Insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene expression patterns while their adaptive capabilities were assessed based on the changes in their metabolic and rumen fermentation profiles. Thirty six ten months to one year old female goats of Osmanabadi, Malabari and Salem Black breeds were randomly divided into six groups, OC (n=6; Osmanabadi control), OHS (n=6; Osmanabadi heat stress), MC (n=6; Malabari control), MHS (n=6; Malabari heat stress), SBC (n=6; Salem Black control) and SBHS (n=6; Salem Black heat stress). The study was conducted for a period of 45 days. All group goats had access to ad libitum feed and water throughout the study period. Heat stress group goats were exposed to summer heat stress for six hours from 10:00 h to 16:00 h while control group animals were kept in the shed protected from heat stress. Breed factor significantly (P<0.05) influenced only few growth variables such as BW, BMI, BCS. However, heat stress treatment significantly (P<0.05) reduced all growth parameters expect BMI. Further, the heat stress significantly (P<0.01) increased plasma GH concentration in goats with significantly higher (P<0.05) concentration recorded in OHS. Among the stress groups, the lower (P<0.05) PBMC IGF-I mRNA expression was recorded in OHS, while the higher (P<0.05) expression was observed in SBHS. Significantly higher PBMC IGF-1 mRNA expression in Salem black goats revealed the extreme adaptive capability of this breed as compared to other breeds to heat stress conditions. Among the metabolic activity controlling hormones, the breed factor significantly (P<0.05) influenced only plasma tri-iodo-thyronine (T3). However, heat stress significantly (P<0.05) decreased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in both MHS and SHS groups while significantly (P<0.05) decreased the plasma T3 in MHS. The rumen metabolites such as acetate, propionate, butyrate and total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) showed significant (P<0.05) variation for both breed and treatment effect. The Salem Black breed did not show any significant variation for most of the rumen metabolites as compared to both Osmanabadi and Malabari breeds for the heat stress treatment. The results indicated that on comparative basis, Salem Black breed adapted better to the heat stress challenges as evident from the non-significant difference in circulating thyroid hormone levels and for most of the rumen metabolites between the control and heat stress group in this breed. Further, it has been observed that shifting of Malabari goats to the new location did not proved beneficial in terms of improving their growth performance. In addition based on the alterations in rhythmic metabolic activities, Salem Black goat breed exhibited higher adaptive capability to heat stress than the other two breeds. Thus, it can be concluded from the study that Salem Black breed was found to be superior in terms of both maintaining its productive function as well as adapting to the adverse environmental condition by altering its metabolic activities during heat stress exposure.