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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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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Author: KAU × End date: 2004 × Start date: 2004 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Behaviour pattern of musth and non musth in captive Asian elephant
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Sathasivam, S; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    Adult male elephants live in a highly dynamic world of changing sexual state, rank, association and behaviour. Physiologically musth is known to be associated with the elevated testosterone levels. There is a positive relationship between changes in testosterone and musth related behaviour, which make the animal in physiological stress. Captive male Asian elephants maintained in the elephant camp at Punnarthurkotta were utilized for the study. Experimental animals were grouped into normal, pre-musth, musth and post-musth stages. A total of 193 hours of observation were carried out by focal animal sampling technique using a behaviour score sheet. Faecal samples were collected from each animal in all stages and stored at –200 c, until it was extracted for measurement of faecal testosterone by RIA technique. The staple food for the elephants under study was palm leaves and napier grass. The amount of palm leaves and napier grass given to growing elephants were 60 to 100 Kg and 20 to 50 Kg, respectively. Similarly for adult elephants amount ranges from 140 to 240 Kg and 50 to 100 Kg, respectively. The nutrient availability of growing and adult elephants was calculated, which shows greater than the required level. The maximum percentage of musth episodes was occurred in winter (30 %) followed by summer (29 %), post monsoon (27 %) and monsoon (14 %). The body weight loss in the experimental animals before and after musth period was about 71.66 ± 25.77 kg. The age at which first musth occurrence was about 24.10 ± 0.50 years. Age groups of 20 to30 (78 ± 3.95 days), 30 to 40(114.53 ± 8.9 days), 40 to 50 (120.37 ± 15.74 days) years elephants shows increasing trend in duration of musth, but vice versa in the age group of 50 to 60 years(90.00 ± 12.82 days). The average behavioural scores obtained for elephants in normal stages was about 12.33 ± 1.22. In pre-musth stage scores and post- musth stage the score were 34 ± 4.69 and 19.66 ± 3.10, respectively. In musth the score shot up to 70.29 ± 2.46 in first month, 78.70 ± 2.48 during second month, 68.15 ± 3.31 in third month, 58.15 ± 5.55, 51.25 ± 14.44 in fourth and fifth month, respectively. The mean faecal testosterone level during normal stage was about 770.96 ± 35.62(ng/g). The levels has increased to 1821.58  129.54(ng/g) during pre-musth stages and reached a peak level of 4307.81  242.40(ng/g) in second month of musth stage. The positive correlation (r =0.82,P<0.0002) was obtained between faecal testosterone and behavioural score in all stage of the experimental elephants. The significant differences in the faecal testosterone levels between normal versus pre-musth (P<0.00001), normal versus musth (P<0.00001), pre-musth versus musth (P<0.00001), musth versus post-musth (P<0.0003), normal versus post-musth (P<0.00001) and post- musth versus pre-musth (P<0.0003) were observed in the present study. Quantitative indicators of musth are enlargement of perineal gland was 2.75 ± 0.2, 7.15 ± 0.7, and 4.75 ± 0.1 in normal, second month of musth and pre-musth, respectively. Temporal gland enlargement was 3.5 ± 0.3, 3.15 ± 0.5 9.5 ± 0.9, in normal, post-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Flehmen response (per hour) was 3, 5 and 8 in normal, pre-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Trunk rising (per hour) was 3,8 and 17 in normal, pre-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Freezing of ears (per hour) was 0,8 and 17 in normal, pre-musth and second month of musth, respectively. Qualitative indicators at the most intensive musth stage of second month were temporal gland secretion up to jowl region, disobedience to mahout, alertness, throwing objects, urine dribbling and green penis syndrome. In addition to that in captivity swaying and stereotypic behaviours was observed. The results of present study suggest that integrating the behavioural and endocrine level could potentially provide a more meaningful measure of musth in captive male elephants and can help to resolve the management problems.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of water sprinkling in summer on the productive adaptability of halothane sensitive pigs
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2004) Deepa Jacob; KAU; Sebastian, K S
    A study was conducted to assess the effect of water sprinkling In summer on the productive adaptability of halothane sensitive pigs. Twenty-four weaned castrated crossbred male piglets were randomly selected after screening for halothane sensitivity. Twelve piglets, six halothane positive and six halothane negative pigs were sprinkled with water during hot hours of the day .. The other twelve were treated as controls. The relative incidence of halothane sensitivity observed was 57.5%. The halothane positive sprinkled pigs had advantage over the other three treatment groups in feed conversion efficiency, resulting in least cost of production for this group. The cost of production per kilogram live body weight in halothane positive sprinkled pigs, positive non-sprinkled, negative sprinkled and negative non-sprinkled pigs were Rs.41.87, Rs.43.95, Rs.47.17 and Rs.48.73 respectively. Thus, the rearing of halothane positive pigs with water sprinkling proved relatively more profitable. Halothane positive pigs had a lower daily feed intake than the negative groups. Sprinkling with water had no statistically significant effect on the physiological parameters, body weights, average daily gain, body measurements, behavioural characteristics and carcass traits of the animals. Even though the differences between the treatments in the behavioural characteristics were non-significant, the number of aggressive encounters, the frequency of defecation and the quantity of dung voided were highest for the halothane positive non-sprinkled pigs. The overall results obtained during the course of the study are the unit cost of production was less for halothane positive animals with environmental enrichment by sprinkling