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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: Climate Change Adaptation × Author: Aleena Joy × Author: KAU × End date: 2017 × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative assessment of the adaptive capacity of different indigenous breed goats to summer heat stress based on changes in phenotypic traits
    (Academy of Climate Change Education and Research Vellanikkara, 2017) Aleena Joy; KAU; Sejian, V
    A study was conducted to evaluate the differences in the thermo-tolerant abilities of three indigenous goat breeds (Osmanabadi, Malabari and Salem Black) to heat stress challenges. The primary objective of the study was to compare the adaptive ability 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 adaptive capabilities of these breeds were assessed based on the changes in their behavioral, physiological, blood biochemical and endocrine responses and peripheral blood mononuclear cell heat shock protein 70 (PBMC HSP70) gene expression patterns. Thirty six 10 months to one year old female goats were randomly allocated into six groups of six animals each as OCON (n=6; Osmanabadi control), OHS (n=6; Osmanabadi heat stress), MCON (n=6; Malabari control), MHS (n=6; Malabari heat stress), SCON (n=6; Salem Black control) and SHS (n=6; Salem black heat stress). The OCON, MCON and SCON animals were maintained in the shed while OHS, MHS and SHS animals were exposed to summer heat stress between 10:00 h to 16:00 h. All the animals had access to ad-libitum feed and water. The duration of the study was 45 days. Results indicated that among the behavioural variables studied, both drinking frequency (DF) and water intake (WI) were significantly higher (P<0.01) in heat stress groups of all the three breeds as compared to their respective control groups. Further, significantly lower (P<0.05) urinating frequency (UF) and higher (P<0.05) rumination time (RuT) was recorded in MHS as compared to other stress groups. The heat stress treatment significantly (P<0.05) lowered the respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) in the morning while significantly (P<0.01) increased all the physiological variables such as RR, pulse rate (PR) and RT in all the three breeds during afternoon. Further, the results indicated that only breed differences (P<0.01) were established for different biochemical variables in the study while the heat stress did not alter these parameters. However, heat stress significantly (P<0.05) increased the plasma cholesterol in MHS group while significantly lowered (P<0.05) plasma triglyceride in both OHS and SHS groups. Further, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) showed significant variation for both breed (P<0.05) as well as treatment (P<0.05) effect. In addition, heat stress significantly increased (P<0.01) plasma cortisol and significantly decreased (P<0.05) plasma aldosterone in only MHS group. Furthermore, heat stress induced PBMC HSP70 expression was significantly higher (P<0.05) in OHS and MHS as compared to SHS group. Thus, it can be concluded from the results that although Malabari breed which is well known for its survival in harsh environment in its native tract could not adapt well to the new locality with much lower magnitude of heat stress. The less severe influence of heat stress on the various biological functions of Salem Black breed as compared to other two breeds clearly indicated the superior adaptability of this breed to survive in different agro-ecological zones. Further, the study also identified RR, RT, plasma cortisol and PBMC HSP70 to be the reliable biological markers for evaluating the thermo-tolerant capacity of indigenous goat breeds.