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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: Roshin Anie Jose × End date: 2005 × Start date: 2005 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Breeding behaviour and testosterone level of male spotted deer
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Roshin Anie Jose; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    Captive population of spotted deer (Cervus axis axis) maintained in zoological gardens, Thrissur were utilized to study the breeding behaviour and testosterone level of males. Out of a total of 45 males, four males in the higher order of hierarchy were selected for the study. A total of 436 hours of observation were carried out by focal animal sampling technique using a behaviour score sheet. Faecal samples were collected from these animals and stored at -20 ºC, until it was extracted for measurement for faecal testosterone and cortisol by radioimmunoassay. Seasonal breeding activity was deduced by reducing the gestation period from the date of birth and monsoon season (35 %) followed by summer season (31%) were selected as the seasons of maximum breeding. Raining season was avoided to eliminate the errors in sample collection and observation of the herd was done in winter and summer. Four males in the higher order of hierarchy were identified based on their body size, antler size, capacity to take the vantage positions and dominance. Animals were named as alpha I, alpha II, velvet I and velvet II. The dominant male of the group was found to develop the longest antlers among the group. Similarly, the body size was more in the velvet forming stage. The blackness of the face, especially the area around the muzzle increases from non-breeding to the breeding stage. The antler cycle of males includes different stages like pedicle formation, velvet growth, velvet shedding, hardened antler stage (rutting stage) and antler cast state. Largest harem size was observed in alpha I(26)followed by alpha II(16).The most frequently observed breeding activity was sniffing 70.78% followed by flehmen 8.98%.Maximum score for breeding behavior was obtained for alpha I(13)followed by alpha II (11).But the actual breeding frequency was more in velvet I (6) followed by velvet II ,which is four per day. The mean testosterone concentration in the pedicel formation stage was 8.55±0.44ng/g of dry weight of faeces (ng/g) and concentration in the velvet stage was about 4.74±0.15ng/g. In the velvet shedding stage, the testosterone concentration was 17.77±0.71ng/g. In the rutting stage of velvet I and velvet II, the concentration was about 19.64±0.86ng/g and 16.08±0.47ng/g respectively and for alpha I and alpha II the level was 19.2±0.97ng/g and 12.8±1.58ng/g. The mean testosterone concentration in the casting stage was 6.37±0.30ng/g. The mean testosterone concentration in the stags which where in rutting stage during summer exhibited a testosterone level of 17.95±0.65ng/g and in winter rutting males the concentration was 16.19±0.18ng/g. Individual differences in the basal and peak values of faecal cortisol metabolites were observed. Mean cortisol concentration in the pedicle formation stage was 118.67±3.99ng/g and in velvet stage, it was 337.77±2.78ng/g. In the velvet shedding stage, the mean cortisol concentration decreased to 110.83±8.83ng/g. The mean cortisol concentration in the rutting stage was 121.07±6.88ng/g and in the casting stage the concentration was 114.54±5.57ng/g. There was no correlation between the breeding score and cortisol in any of the stages of sexual cycle. Similarly no correlation was found between the faecal cortisol level and faecal testosterone level. A positive correlation (ρ=. 878, p<. 01) between the breeding score and faecal testosterone was observed in animals during velvet stage. A similar correlation was also observed during velvet shedding stage and rutting stage. But in the antler casting stage and pedicel formation stage no significant correlation was seen. The results of the present study suggests that in captive herds of spotted deer, non invasive method can be successfully used to find out the testosterone levels, which can be integrated with breeding behaviour to have a better understanding of the breeding patterns of the group. This knowledge of breeding behavior in relation to testosterone level can be effectively used to adopt some measures to contain the population size.