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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: Subhash, C K ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Population,age and sex assessment of free-ranging elephants of Periyar tiger reserve
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Subhash, C K; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    A demographic study on the free ranging elephants of Periyar Tiger Reserve was conducted from March to May 2005. Herd composition, age structure and sex assessment were the main parameters recorded. The technique of molecular sexing using dung extracted DNA was incorporated into the study to reduce error in determining sex by physical verification. The published results by different investigators on the structure and pattern of elephant population in Periyar Tiger Reserve varied widely, especially on the age structure and biased sex ratios towards females giving the elephants in Periyar Tiger reserve a high priority conservation status. This information formed the basis for the study. Of the total 239 elephants observed in 43 herds, 193 elephants were classified based on age and sex. It was found that more than 50 per cent of the recorded elephants were adult females. The calves formed 5.19 per cent, juveniles 20.76 per cent, sub adults 20.76 per cent and adult males only 0.889 per cent of the observed population. Females formed 81.99 per cent and males formed only 18.01% of the population, but the proportion of males and females in the calf and juvenile category was almost same, with a shift biased towards the females from the sub adult category onwards. The sex ratios in the juvenile, sub adult and adult categories were 1:0.9, 1:4.71 and 1:58.95 respectively. In the observed age-sex classes, adult females and sub adult females formed the major portion (69.53 %) of the population, a shift towards the older age class. The calving interval of the Periyar elephants was above 10 years and the fecundity rate 0.099 indicating a population suggestive of acute shortage of breeding bulls and approximately only one in ten adult females conceive every year. This is the first study to combine reliable conventional tools and molecular methods to assess sex of free-ranging elephant population of Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is found that molecular sexing is a very reliable tool for assessing the sex of individuals of free-ranging wild animal populations. The study infers that the present situation of the Periyar elephants is crucial and calls for further research and immediate active population management strategies.