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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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19771
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Subject: Dairy Microbiology × End date: 1977 × Start date: 1977 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Feeding of sour colostrum to dairy calves
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1977) Sukumaran, M V; KAU; Subramanian, M
    A study was undertaken to compare the physiological status and performance of the calves fed fermented colostrum for a period of 30 days with those reared on whole milk and also to find out the changes in the properties and composition of bovine colostrum stored at room temperature for 10 days. The colostrum required for feeding the calves was obtained by collecting the first 10 milkings of individual cows after calving and stored at room temperature for 10 days to undergo natural fermentation. A total of 16 crossbred calves of the University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy, weaned at birth formed the animals for the study. The experimental group consisting of four males and four females received sour colostrum and a similar number in the control group was reared on whole milk. On the first day all the calves received the fresh colostrum of their dams at 10 per cent of their body weights. From the second day onwards the calves in the experimental group received sour colostrum (diluted 1: 1with lukewarm water) and the control group whole milk at the rate of 10 per cent of their body weights, fed twice daily. The calves were weighed at birth and subsequently everyday. Samples of blood were collected once in five days from all the calves for studying the blood values. The statistical analysis of the data collected recealed that the growth rate of calves fed sour colostrum was significantly higher than that of the calves on whole milk. The calves in the experimental group gained a total of 45.7 kg in their body weights as against 28.6 kg for the control group during the period of four weeks. The physiological status of both the groups of animals were satisfactory as revealed by the blood values. The main changes that occurred when colostrum was allowed to ferment naturally were lowering of pH from 6.2 to 4.2, reduction of protein percentage from 8.2 to 6.2 and a slight drop in the percentage of milk fat from 4.6 to 4.1. The microbial changes that occurred in the store bovine colostrum at room temperature for 10 days were as follows: the various micro-organisms such as total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, gram-negative bacteria, lactics, streptococci and yeast and molds generally increased in number during the first four days and thereafter tended to decrease and stabilized at the end, No undesirable effects were noticed in the stored colostrum. The feeding of sour colostrum to young calves was found to be beneficial in terms of health and performance. Storing colostrum at room temperature for 10 days to bring about natural fermentation was found to preserve the same for use in calf feeding.