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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
    Evaluation of coffee husk for milk production in cows
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1979) Geevarghese, P I; KAU; Subramaniam, M
    An investigation was carried out to find out the feeding value of coffee husk for milk production in cows using a total of nine Sindhi x Jersey cross bred cows, divided into three groups of three animals each. The experiment was for a period of 90 days. Coffee husk was included in the concentrate mixture at 0, 10 and 20 per cent levels. A switch – over design was used for the experiment. Coffee husk fed at 10 and 20 per cent levels in the concentrate ration did not significantly influence the body weight of animals. The total milk production of the animals getting coffee husk in the ration did not significantly differ from that of the animals on the control diet. The percentage of fat in milk, the total quantity of milk fat produced, the amount of four per cent fat – corrected milk, the percentage of total solids, the amount of total solids in milk, percentage of solids – not –fat, total quantity of solids – not – fat and the amount of solids – corrected milk remained the same for all the three groups of animals included for the study and no significant differences were noticed due to treatments. The physiological status of the cows in all the groups was normal and satisfactory. No significant difference due to treatments was noticed in some of the physical and chemical constants of butter fat. The dairy merit (percentage) based on efficiency of feed conversion was less of animals getting ten per cent coffee husk due to the reduced milk production and the greater feed consumption. The total cost of feed for producing one kg milk was Rs.1.42, 1.38 and 1.33 for animals getting 0, 10 and 20 per cent coffee husk in the concentrate mixture respectively. It was concluded that coffee husk upto 20 per cent level can profitably be incorporated in the concentrate mixture of dairy cows.