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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
    Effect of frequency of ejaculation on semen characteristics and libido in cross-bred bucks
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Metilda, Joseph; KAU; Prabhakaran, Nair K
    The objective of the study was to find out the optimum number of collections per day which can be taken from adult cross – bred bucks without adversely affecting their libido and semen quality. Ejaculation frequencies of once, twice and thrice daily for a continuous period of three months were adopted for the study. Epididymal sperm reserves and Daily Sperm Production were estimated to assess the sperm reserves of bucks. While colour, density, mass activity, concentration and MBR time were found to be influenced by ejaculation frequencies, volume, pH, percentage of dead sperms, percentage of abnormal sperms and sperm vialbility were unaffected. Frequency of ejaculation was not found to affect the libido of bucks. Bucks within group were found to influence all seminal attributes except mass activity, percentage of dead sperms and MBR time. Similarly all the seminal attributes with the exception of proximal and distal protoplasmic droplets were influenced by months within groups. A positive correlation between sperm viability at 46.50C for 30 minutes and preservation at 6 to 80C for 96 hrs.was observed. While in group II bucks only density, mass activity, pH, concentration and MBR time showed significant difference between ejaculates, in group 111, all seminal attributes except percentage of dead sperms were observed to be significantly different between ejaculates. The Daily Sperm Production per buck (X 109), per gram of testis (X 106), Daily Sperm Output (X 109) and dpididymal Sprem reserves (X 109) were respectively 3.7949 + 0.2032, 22.1974 + 0.3775, 1.2680 and 25.72 + 1.95. The average transit time of spermatozoa through epididymis was found to be 6.78 days. Increasing the frequency of collection from once daily to twice or thrice daily resulted in a significant drop in spermatozoan concentration, thus affecting seminal attributes such as colour, density, mass activity and MBR time. The very fact that other important seminal attributes such as volume, pH, motility, percentage of abnormal sperms, percentage of dead sperms, percentage of proximal and distal protoplasmic droplets and spermatozoan viability were unaffected, clearly points out that there is no deterioration of semen quality with increasing collection frequency. Similarly there was no deterioration in the sex libido and fertility of bucks even with three collections daily. However, there dose not seem to be any definite advantage in increasing collection frequency from 2 to 3 times daily, as the total harvest of sperms from group 11 and group 111 were almost same. But increasing the frequency of collection from one to two times daily has definite advantage, as it yields more spermatozoa for artificial insemination and hence is recommended for adoption.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of different dietary levels on the postpartum reproductive performance of cross-bred cows
    (Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Alexander, M I; KAU; Prabhakaran, Nair K
    The object of the present study was to asses the influence of higher dietary levels on the postpartum re productive performance of cross-bred cows. The meterials consisted of 30 crossbred cows in advanced stage of gestation. They were weighed on 270th day of gestation and on the day of calving and were randomly allotted to control, treatments 1st and 2nd . the control received ration based on Sen and Ray standard whereas, treatments 1 st and 2nd received 115 and 130 precent of control ration. The weight of the cows was recorded at 15 days interval from calving to oestrum.serum inorganic phosphorous, protein, glucose and haemoglobin percentage of 5 cows from each group was estimated. A decline of body weight wad observed in the first fortnight in all the three groups. This trend continued upto 30 days in the control whereas, in the treatment an increasing trend was observed from fifteenth day. Cows in all three groups showed postpartum oestrum, while there was in gain in body weight. The postpartum oestrous interval of control ,treatment 1st and treatment 2nd were 62.1+4.63, 56.60+5.53 and 53.22+3.75 days respectively and these values did not very significantly. However, postpartum oestrous interval of treatments 1st snd 2d was significantly less than that of the herd. Serum in organic phosphorous was significantly higher on the day of oestrum in control and treatment II. There was significant difference in serum protein values between groups at certain time intervals. It was also significantly more on the day of oestrum in both control and treatment I. Similarly blood glucose and haemoglobin were significantly higher on the day of oestrum in treatment I. Results of this study indicated that Sen and Ray ration is adequate to meet the requirement for both production and reproduction of cross- bred cows.