Loading...
Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Experimental selenosis in cattle
    (Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1989) Jayakumar, K M; KAU; Aleyas, N M
    Experimental studies were conducted on six calves keeping two as control by oral administration of sodium selenite at the rate of 1.0 mg/kg body weight thrice a week over a period of 24 weeks. Visible signs of toxicity were noticed only from week 13 onwards in experimental animals. The clinical toxicologic signs recorded were anorexia, cachexia, incoordination of gait, increased pulse and respiratory rates, pale and watery mucous membrane, subnormal temperature, cold and clammy skin, lacrimation and respiratory distress followed by recumbency and death. Laboratory evaluation of plasma protein, plasma vitamin A, haemoglobin (Hb), volume of packed red cells (VPRC), total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leucocyte count (TLC) and ascorbic acid level in the blood were carried out at weekely intervals. Since visible signs of toxicity were observed from week 13 onwards, the parameters studied were divided into 2 sets; Ist to 12the weeks (first half) and 13th to 24th weeks (second half) for statistical evaluation of data. In experimental animals, significant reduction was observed only in respect of plasma vitamin A (P < 0.01), ascorbic acid level in blood (P < 0.01) and TEC (P < 0.05) during the first half, whereas all the parameters studied showed significant fall (P < 0.01) in the second half. The mean values of plasma protein, plasma vitamin A, haemoglobin, VPRC, TEC, TLC and ascorbic acid level in the blood in experimental animals were 7.53 + 0.09 g/dl, 30.07 + 0.59 µg/dl, 10.28 + 0.11 g/dl. 29.68 + 0.34 %, 5.16 + 0.4 mill.,/cmm, 7243.06 + 66.2 cells/cmm and 223.12 + 3.46 µg/dl respectively. The corresponding values in the control group were 7.77 + 0.07 g/dl, 32.29 + 0.48 µg/dl, 10.08 + 0.06 g/dl, 30.58 + 0.38 %, 5.42 + 0.09 mill./cmm, 7000 + 168.52 cells/ cmm and 274.38 + 1.41 µg/dl. During the second half, the mean values of the above parameters in experimental group were 6.30 + 0.13 g/dl, 22.56 + 0.38 µg/dl, 8.31 + 0.16 g/dl, 25.09 + 0.49%, 4.82 + 0.03 mill./cmm, 5905.62 + 94.14 cells/cmm and 162.32 + 4.8 µg/dl and in the control group were 7.29 + 0.04 g/dl, 32.29 + 0.48 µg/dl, 10.43 + 0.09 g/dl, 31.08 + 0.54 %, 5.58 + 0.09 mill./cmm and 7066.69 + 124.67 cells/cmm and 275.21 + 1.17 µg/dl. The gross and microscopic pathology of internal organs in experimental animals revealed that liver is the primary organ affected followed by kidneys, heart, gastrointestinal tract and brain. The pathological lesions noticed in the liver were focal haemorrhages, fatty degeneration, centrilobular necrosis and varying degree of fragmention of hepatic cells with congestion and dialatation of capillaries. The lesions in the kidney were focal areas of degeneration, medullary haemorrhages, tubular necrosis, cloudy swelling and fatty changes. Varying degree of degeneration, necrosis and lymphocytic infiltration and replacement fibrosis were observed in the cardiac muscle. Changes noticed in the gastrointestinal tract were oedema, focal areas of haemorrhage and necrosis of the mucosal and submucosal layers.