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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 × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1994 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bio-climatological influence on physiological norms of sheep and goats
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Mahadevappa, Gouri; KAU; Francis Xavier
    An experiment was conducted to compare the influence of climatic elements on the physiological norms of Ramnad white sheep (Ovis aries) and Malabari crossbred goats (Capra hircus) maintained at the goat and sheep farm of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy. The preparation of an ethogram for these animals maintained in the same shed under same managemental conditons were also made. Fifteen adult females each of Ramnad white sheep Malabari crossbred goats were randomly selected for the study. The animals were maintained under a standard ration and housed together in a conventional type of goat shed. Animals were offerred clean fresh water ad libitum during the experiment. The experiment was conducted for a period of one year during 1997-'98. The climatological observations such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, windstroke, sunshine and rainfall were recorded daily. Again the experimental period was classified as two seasons, viz., rainy (includes, cold and wet; warm and wet) and dry (includes, warm and dry ; hot and dry) season, based on the climatological observations made during the experimental period. Physiological norms, viz., rectal temperature, respiration rate and heart rate were observed, and these showed significant higher rates during hotter months when compared to cooler months. The ambient temperature showed a positive correlation with physiological norms. On the other hand, the relative humidity showed negative correlation with the same, in both the species. The average rectal temperature recorded during the experimental period was 38.78°C in the morning and 39.69°C in the evening hours in sheep. The corresponding values in goats were 38.74°C and 39.69°C. The average respiration rates in sheep were 28.14 and 49.59 breathings per minute in the morning and evening. The respective figures in goats were 28.14 and 53.88 per minute. The corresponding heart rates during morning and evening were 66.54 and 87.72 in sheep and 73.61 and 94.38 beats per minute in goats. The hot and dry season recorded highest values for all these norms and cold and wet season the lowest. Highly significant to significant diurnal variation (P<0.01) were observed in these norms in both sheep and goats. It was non-significant with respiration rates and showed a highly significant difference (P<0.01) in their heart rates, between sheep and goats. Further, the seasonal variations among all physiological norms were also significant. Highly significant relationships were observed between climatic variables and haemoglobin percentage of blood and serum potassium in both the species. No such relationships were discernible in the case of ESR The average values of heamoglobin, ESR and serum potassium were 11.34 g/ 100 ml, 3.18 mm/24hr and 6.43 mEq/l in sheep respectively. The corresponding values in goats were 10.52 g/100 ml of blood, 2.17 mm/24hr and 6.22 mEq/1 respectively. Ambient temperature and heamoglobin levels in both sheep and goats were negatively correlated and this showed a positve correlation with the relative humidity. The difference between the species was significant in their heamoglobin levels. The season also had a significant influence on heamoglobin levels of both sheep and goats. The ESR did not show significant relationship with the climatic variables in both the species. But the difference between the species was highly significant (P<0.01). The effect of seasons showed significant differences in sheep and was non-significant in goats. Highly significant negative correlation (P<0.0l) was recorded between serum potassium levels of sheep and goats and ambient temperature. Relative humidity had a positive correlation with the serum potassium levels in both the species. Further, the differences between the species was non- significant. The season had a significant influence (P<0.01) on serum potassium levels in both sheep and goats The average body weight recorded during the experiment was 23.46 kg in sheep and 26.08 kg in goats. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in body weight between months and also between species. Climatic as well as seasonal influences were non-significant on body weights in both sheep and goats. Measurements of physical dimensions of the body were taken at monthly intervals for twelve months. The average values in sheep were 68.89 cm, height at withers; 70.18 cm, chest girth and 61.72 cm, body length. The respective values in goats were 65.29 cm, height; 67.61 cm, girth and 63.51 cm body length. ETHOGRAM The experimental animals were observed for their basic behavioural patterns for six hours in a day for a period of 700 hr during the study. Based on these observations the ethogram was constructed and compared between sheep and goats, under farm conditions. Eight mam behavioural categories consisting of forty two different behavioural patterns, grouped under different headings were used for the study. The behavioural categories included, gaits; animal oriented locomotion; visual patterns; object and self oriented patterns; vocal and non-vocal patterns; stretching patterns; stationary body positions and stances and feeding, digestive and elimination patterns. The results revealed that, the goats exhibited more number of behavioural patterns during the study period than sheep. The patterns observed in these species were stronger and more evident in goats than sheep. Further, goats preferred browsing over grazing and spent most of the alloted time for the same. Sheep utilised the maximum time for grazing activity, with occasional browsing on plants, trees, etc. Defaecation and urination were the common patterns exhibited along with the feeding activities.