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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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1991 - 19935
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Subject: Fisheries × End date: 1993 × Start date: 1990 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilization of prawn waste as pig feed
    (Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1991) Syam, Mohan K M; KAU; Sivaraman, E
    An investigation was carried out to assess the feeding value of prawn waste as a partial or complete replacement of unsalted dried fish in the rations for growing – finishing pigs. Thirty – two Large White Yorkshire weanling pigs with an average body weight of 9.1 kg were distributed randomly and uniformly as far as possible to four groups (Groups 1, 11, 111 and IV) of eight animals each, with regard to age, sex and body weight and housed in pairs of the same sex. The four dietary treatments A, B, C and D were allotted to the pigs in the groups 1, 11, 111 and IV respectively. Of the total protein, 25 per cent in the diets A, B and C and 12.5 per cent in the diet D were provided as animal protein. Unsalted dried fish was used as animal protein source in the diets C and D. Diet C formed the control diet. In the diets A and B, 50 per cent and 100 per cent replacements respectively of animal protein from unsalted dried fish were made using dried prawn waste. All the animals were maintained on the respective diets with 18 per cent total protein upto an average live weight of 50 kg and with 14 per cent protein till they attained a body weight of 70 kg or 8 months of age, whichever was earlier, when they were slaughtered to study carcass characteristics.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on depuration of edible oyster Crassostrea madrasensis (Preston)
    (Department of processing technology, College of fisheries, Panangad, 1993) Usha, P T; KAU; Damodaran, Namboodiri
    Oysters crassostrea madrasensis harvested from cochin back waters are commonly contaminated with low levels of food poisoning organisms such as E.coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholera, V-parahaemolyticus etc, heavy metals like cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, mercury etc and sand content. Depuration studies were conducted to find out any changes in the biochemical constituents such as total Nitrogen, salt soluble Nitrogen, Non protein Nitrogen, Ash and sand content. The studies revealed that there were no significant changes in the biochemical constituents during the 48th depuration period. Oysters were laboratory contaminated to levels in excess of 10000 cells /g with E.coli and it was cleansed from such oysters during purification in a laboratory depuration unit that used ultraviolet light and chlorination for sterilizing the depuration water. Depuration in sterilized water using ultra violet light treatment was found to be more efficient in cleansing the oyster of pathogen, E.Coli than using chlorination. Of the two salinity tested depuration of oyster in seawater at 35 ppt salinity gave better results compared t that in 30ppt salinity sea water both sterilised with uv light. Depuration of oyster in unsterile seawater and in seawater sterilised 10 ppm chlorination was found to be least effective in cleansing the oyster to the acceptable international standard of less than 2.3 E.Coli/g oyster meat within 48h depuration. There was no appreciated change in the sensory characteristics of oysters such as aroma, taste, and flavor. However there was significant change in the grittiness characteristics of oyster after 48h depuration. Depuration was not effective in removing heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, zinc, Tin and Mercury from the oyster within the depuration period of 48h.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Breeding biology of Villorita cyprinoides (Gray) in relation to salinity gradients
    (Department of Fishery Biology, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 1991) Sudha, B Nair; KAU; Jose, T M
    The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of salinity variations on the breeding biology of populations of black clam Villorita cyprinoides (Gray), inhibiting two different cological zones of the Vembanad Lake. Two stations with perennial clam beds, but differing greatly in salinity conditions were selected for the study. Station I, in the northern side of Thanneermukkam barrier, has more influx of sea water and Station II, in the southern side has low saline influx. Monthly collections of black clams and bottom and surface waters were made from May 1989 to June 1990. Major environmental parameters such as salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH of bottom and surface waters were estimated with a view to understand the circannual variations within and between the stations. Among these, salinity was found to be the most important parameter showing prominent variations. At Station I, the bottom salinity values ranged from 0.0 to 18.12%0 and in Station II from 0.0 to 2.12%0. Histological studies of the clams collected from the two stations revealed that animals inhabiting Station I, a predominantly brackish water zone, have a protracted, almost year round breeding season extending from September to June with peak spawning during March to June and coinciding with the peak salinity levels and temperature. At Station II, a predominantly freshwater zone, the clams have a short duration spawning season extending from March to June with peak spawning during Apirl and May, again coinciding with the peak salinity levels and temperature. It is also observed that there exists a positive correlation between the bottom salinity and gondal maturation and spawning. Size – frequency studies of the calms collected from the two stations revealed that at Station I, the clam fishery was dominated by small sized animals, when compared to Station II. This may be related to the differences observed in the extend of spawning activity between the population of the two stations, resulting in the divergent apportionment of energy resource for somatic growth versus reproduction.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of sedatives on penaeus monodon fabricus seed under oxygen packing for transportation
    (Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 1991) Joshi, K; KAU; Jayasree Vadhyar, K
    The study was performed with the objective of selecting a sedative at a suitable dose and testing its effect along with other factors viz. packing density, salinity and temperature on the P.mondon seed under oxygen – packed transport conditions. The selection of a sedative at an appropriate dose, from those tried viz. chloral hydrate, MS-222 and tertiary butyl alcohol, was made by conducting statistically designed experiments on the survival of the treated and untreated prawn seed for 72 hours in open containers and on the metabolic activities of the treated and untreated prawn seed for 2 hours. The experiment to find out the effect of the selected sedative was carried out in specially designed hard plastic containers fitted with facilities fpr packing oxygen under uniform pressure. The experiment was conducted as an asymmetrical factorial experiment with 4 levels of packing density (200/1, 400/1, 600/1 and 800/1) and 2 levels of sedation (without and with sedation), salinity (25 ppt and 20ppt) and temperature (29+ 10C and 23 + 20C). Chloral hydrate was selected at a dose of 400 ppm for application on P.monodon post –larvae under oxygen – packed conditions. The application of chloral hydrate on the prawn seed under oxygen packing at the selected dose evidently showed a negative effect. A lower dose (300 ppm) than the selected dose, studied separately, also showed similar results under oxygen packing . An increase in packing density decreased the time of initial mortality and percentage survival. At packing densities of 200/1, 400/1, 600/1 and 800/1, the safe durations of transport (duration of 100% survival) were 7.5 h,5 h, 3.5h and 2.5 h respectively at ambient temperature of 29+ 10 C. In P.monodon seed transport the number of seed has been found as more important than their weight in deciding the survival. A high salinity of 25 ppt was found better than a lower salinity for P.monodon seed transport. Lowering of temperature of the packing medium, rather than applying sedatives or lowering of salinity, has been found as a suitable method for increasing the survival during oxygen – packed transport of P.mondon seed. At the lowered temperature of 23+ 20C significantly longer duration of 100% survival (15h at 200/1 and 5 h at 800/1) and better percentage survival at 24 hours (92.5% at 200/1 and 83.13% at 800/1) than at the ambient temperature could be observed.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on texture and collagen content of commercially important tropical fishes
    (Department of Processing Technology, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 1991) Femeena Hassan; KAU; Sajan George
    Stroma proteins refer to slightly soluble proteins which are obtained after removing water and salt, soluble proteins in the muscle. The main constituent of stroma protein is collagen. The role of collagen in contributing to the texture and gaping of fish fillets has been studied using six commercially important fish species of India VIZ. sardine (SardineIla lonqiceps) ,mackeral ( RastralIiger kanaqurta ) , tilapia ( Oreochromis mossambicus ) , common carp (Cyprinus carpio), tuna (Euthynnus affinis) and shark (Scoliodon sorrakowah). The texture of raw fish meat was found to be influenced by the content of collagen in fish muscle. A significant correlation (P > 0.05) was obtained between soluble, insoluble and total collagen contents, and toughness of raw meat, as determined by sensory evaluation and two types of texturometers. Significant correlation was also obtained between actomyosin content and toughness of raw meat, determined either by subjective or objective methods (P > 0.05), but not to the extent of soluble or total collagen. In the case of cooked meat , although a significant correlation (P> 0.05 ) was obtained between actomysin content and cooked meat toughness ,no such correlation could be established between collagen content and cooked meat toughness. Stroma proteins seem to be important in deciding the texture of raw meat, whereas, In the case, of cooked meat, myofibrillar proteins are probably involved. The gaping phenomenon was studied in frozen fillets stored for a period of three months. A slight increase in gaping was noticed during storage period. However, this was not found to be statistically significant. Further studies have to be carried out to get a clear cut idea about the influence of collagen on gaping phenomenon in frozen stored fish. The two types of texturometers fabricated, spring - operated and weight - operated, were found suitable for assessing the toughness of raw fish meat, but not. Cooked meat.