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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 Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics × Author: Jose, V M × Author: KAU × End date: 2005 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Observation on parturition in cross bred cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1981) Jose, V M; KAU; Neelakanta, Iyer C P
    The aim of the present investigation was to study the gestation period and the process of parturition in crossbred cattle. The materials used for the present study consisted of 40 crossbred cows of Jersey x Sindhi, Jersey x Local and Brown Swiss x Local cows maintained in the Livestock Farm attached to the Kerala Agricultural University. These animals were maintained under identical conditions of feeding and management. Duration of gestation was calculated from the breeding records maintained in the farm. Signs of approaching parturition were assessed by personal observations. The presentation, position and posture of foetus were studied by rectal and vaginal examinations. The gestation length of Jersey x Sindhi, Jersey x Local and Brown Swiss x Local was 275.3 + 2.8, 279.3 + 2.5 and 280.5 + 2.6 days respectively. Breed of the dam and sex of the calf had no significant influence on the gestation length. Birthweight of calf was not significantly correlated to gestation length. Observation on the location of the foetus revealed a steadily increasing trend in the percentage of foetal extremities being presented in the pelvic cavity until a day prior to parturition. In all the animals observed, the foetuses were in anterior presentation. The position of the foetuses at the time of parturition were dorsosacral in all the cases. Changes in position and posture of the foetuses were noticed within 96 hours of parturition. In all the cows studied, there were progressive increase in vulval and udder enlargement, presence of coclostrum, relaxation of sacrosciatic ligaments and dilatation of cervix as parturitions were imminent. A significant drop in body temperature was noticed on the day prior to parturition. The total duration of parturition was 34.68 + 68.75, 668.2 + 97.17 and 912.5 + 182.68 minutes respectively for Jersey x Sindhi, Jersey x Local and Brown Swiss x Local cows, the differences being statistically significant. It was also observed, that the differences in the duration of different stages of parturition were not at variance. Intensity of labour and sex of calf had no influence on the different stages of parturition in crossbred cows. Diurnal variation of calving was noticed with 60.53 per cent during day time and 39.47 per cent during night time. All the cows except one were recumbent at the time of expulsion of foetus. Breed and sex of calf had no influence on the weight of placenta and number of cotyledons. The total number of cotyledons and large sized cotyledons were significantly higher in the gravid horn than in the nongravid horn. The small sized cotyledons were significantly lower in the gravid horn. No significant difference was observed in the number of medium sized cotyledons between gravid and nongravid horns. The weight of foetal fluids was found to range from 5.6 to 22.4 kg. with a mean of 15.214 + 2.25 kg.