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

19961
Reset filters
Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: Anil Kumar Nair × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Draught efficiency of asian elephants (Elephas maximus indicus)
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1996) Anil Kumar Nair; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    The draught performance of elephants were assessed on the basis of the degree of variation from the normal physiological haematological parameters during different hours of operation with different draft. The ability of the elephants to carry out work with different draft were observed on the of basis of fatigue score card and distress signs exhibited by the animal during different hour of operation with different draft. Six elephants were utilized for the study, the elephants were put to work for a period of 3 hour of continuous work from 7 AM to 10 AM, followed by 1 hour rest and 1 hour work after rest with different draft. Physiological responses like respiratory rate, pulse rate, rectal temperature and haematological parameters like haemoglobin per cent, packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, serum glucose, serum protein, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum creatinine, were estimated before before work, immediately after 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour followed by one hour rest and 1 hour work after rest. Other parameters like average speed of walking, draft and horsepower developed by elephants were also estimated. As a result of work the physiological responses increased significantly. The physiological responses showed maximum increase at 3 hour of work at 30 per cent draft indicative of distress. There were also other physical signs of distress like frequent spraying of saliva, refusal to work and dragging of feet. The physiological responses decreased but did not reach the pre – exercise values after one hour of rest. The haemoglobin percent of blood, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count decreased significantly after work. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate shows significant increase after work. The other parameters like average speed, decreased significantly as the duration work progressed. No significant difference were observed in mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular haemoglobin. Serum glucose content decreased significantly after work serum creatinine significantly increased after work. Overall, the results indicate that the elephants at 10 per cent draft can work for 3 hour continuously without showing any signs at distress, obtaining a comfortable fatigue score below 10. At 20 per cent draft animal starts showing the sign of distress at 3 hour of work with a fatigue score reaching upto 16.63. At 30 per cent draft the elephants starts exhibiting the signs of distress signs at the end of 2 hour of work itself and at 3 hour work the animal is highly fatigued with the fatigue score reaching 20.65. The elephants reaching fatigue score of above 15 were found fatigued.