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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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19974
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Subject: Livestock Production and Management × End date: 1997 × Start date: 1997 × Type: Thesis ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of enrichment of environment and halothane sensitivity on performance of large white yorkshire and desi pigs
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Joseph Mathew; KAU; Thomas, C K
    The effect of environmental variables, halothane sensitivity and environmental enrichments in the form of wallowing, water sprinkling and access to a shaded range on various production and reproduction traits of exotic(LWY) and Desi pigs was assessed by conducting a study in Kerala Agricultural University Pig Breeding Farm , Mannuthy (UPBF). Significant correlations were found between environmental variables and important production and reproduction traits in both breeds . The incidence o f . halothane sensitivity was found to be higher in LWY when compared to that of Desi.A clear breed difference was noticed between Desi and LWY with respect to traits such as body weight,daily weight gain,body measurements, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency(FCE), weaning weight,cost of production for unit meat and weaned piglet.Environmental enrichments were found to- be beneficial for most of the traits such as body weight, daily weight gain,FCE,conception rate,live litter size at birth,birth weight,litter weight at weaning ' and average weaning weight.When halothane sensitive animals were better in FCE and growth rate, halothane resistant animals came out with good reproduction results.But positive animals with environmental enrichments performed better than negative in certain traits.The biochemical traits associated with halothane sensitivity were inconsistent.But clear trends with breed and genetic groups existed between halothane positive and negative animals.An apparently clear interaction between breeds, genotype and environmental enrichments were niticed in certain production and reproduction traits.Provision for access to a shaded range was found to be beneficial for fattening pigs with respect to FCE and growth rate.Wallowing and water sprinkling have got negative effect on these traits.But for reproduction traits all the above enrichments had beneficial effeet.Based on the observations and the results suitable combinations of various environmental enrichments for different breeds, genotypes and purpose were’ designed which may be used as tools for developing managemental systems under different situations.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of exercise on the physiological norms of horses
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Sandhya, S; KAU; Rajagopalan, T G
    In order to study the effect of exercise on the physiological norms of the horses, six horses belonging to the I (K) Mounted Squadron N.C.C. of Kerala Agricultural University were divided at random into groups of three animals. First was subjected to an exercise regime in the first month while the other remained as control. Groups were switched over every month. The parameters studied were body temperature, respiratory rate, heart beat, red blood cell count, packed cell volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, glucose and lactic acid, before exercise, after exercise and after one and half hours of rest. The results obtained are tabulated. ________________________________________________________ Parameters Before After After Exercise exercise rest Body temperature 37.72 + 0.064 39.06 + 0.027 38.08 + 0.116 (0C) Respiration rate 21.13 + 0.538 84.28 + 0.805 24.47 + 0.63 Per minute Heart beat per minute 36.19 + 0.083 66.57 + 1.32 41.63 + 1.53 RBO count per 7.29 + 0.049 8.03 + 0.039 7.44 + 0.0498 Million/cc PCV (%) 35.50 + 1.011 44.16 + 1.033 36.44 + 0.812 ESR mm/30 minutes 56.51 + 1.106 37.97 + 2.93 51.46 + 0.95 Glucose (mg%) 73.03 + 0.698 59.45 + 1.242 71.81 + 1.68 Lactic acid (mmol/L) 1.60 + 0.095 1.79 + 0.108 1.61 + 0.095 ________________________________________________________________ Exercise significantly changes all the physiological parameters except body temperature which was kept fairly constant by horses. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were found to cause stress in the horses. Parameters like respiratory rate and heart beat were considerably increased after exercise to keep the body temperature fairly constant in horses. In spite of one and half hours of rest the body temperature, respiratory rate, heart beat, red blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glucose content could not reach the normal level. However the lactic acid level and packed cell volume could be brought back to the normal level after one and half hours of rest. Age and stages of conditioning of horses were found to influence the level of physiological parameters and time needed to bring them back to the normal level.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Influence of management systems on growth of Malabari goats
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Ralston Sebastian Edward, G; KAU; Francis Xavier
    An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of . management systems on growth of Malabari goats. Thirty Malabari kids aged three to four months of age were selected randomly and allotted to three treatments. Kids under treatment I were fed complete feed and managed intensively. Animals under treatment II and III, were maintained under Intensive and Semi-intensive systems. Animals maintained on complete feed registered a better growth rate from second to fourth month. Whereas animals in Semi-intensive system showed a better final growth. Body weight was significantly influenced by the period in all the treatments. Kids under Semi-intensive system showed a better height and length, whereas kid, under Intensive system showed a better girth measurement. In morphometric observations females had a significantly higher value compared to males. The body measurements also showed a significant difference between fortnights and it increased with age, in all three treatments. The experimental period was divided into hot-dry and rainy periods based on climatological observations. Physiological norms like rectal temperature, heart rate and respiration rate showed significantly higher rates in animals kept under Semi-intensive system of management. A highly significant difference in the diurnal observations in the physiological norms were noted. But there was no sexual dimorphism in physiological norms. There was no significant difference in haemoglobin level between treatments and between seasons. The goats fed on feed under Intensive management system showed a better dressing percentage but there was no significant difference in other carcass traits between treatments.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of transportation on the performance and carcass traits of halothane sensitive pigs
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Manju Sasidharan; KAU; Saseendran, P C
    A study to assess the effect of transportation on the performance and carcass traits of halothane sensitive pigs was carried out. Twenty four weaner piglets were selected after screening for halothane sensitivity. Twelve piglets, six from halothane positive and six from halothane negative were transported. The halothane negative pigs showed more aggressive behaviour during transport, and the loss in body weight was significantly (P < 0.01) higher for the halothane negative pigs. A transportation for 150 km (Five hours) did not affect the further growth performance, average fortnightly gain and feed conversion efficiency. At 210 days of age the transported group was subjected to a second transportation of 150 km and were slaughtered and carcass characteristic were studied. Shrinkage was more for halothane negative group. The live weight at slaughter, carcass length dressing percentage, loin eye area, backfat thickness and organ weights did not show any significant difference. The meat pH was lower for halothane positive pigs and transported group indicative of pale soft exudative (PSE) condition. The crude fat content of liver and kidney did not differ between any of the groups. Packed cell volume and blood pH did not vary between the groups. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for transported halothane positive group. There was no significant difference in serum lactate dehydrogenase content. But serum creatine phosphokinase was higher for halothane positive pigs and the values increased on transportation.