Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20072
Reset filters
Subject: Livestock Production and Management × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Village level livestock and poultry production under the industrialization scenario
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Rajaganapathy, V; KAU; Francis, Xavier
    An in depth assessment and analysis of two villages, one an industrial area and the other an agrarian hamlet, was taken up. The effect of industrialization and pollution in village level livestock and poultry production and toxic heavy metals content as an indicator of pollution in water, soil, fodder and in biological samples were studied. Based on the observation and scientific validations, changes in livestock farming system and methodologies to alleviate the extent of pollution were sorted out. This study was conducted in Plachimada village - industrial area - in Perumatty Panchayat and in Nallepilly village- control area in Nallepilly Panchayat in Chittoor taluk in Palakkad district. A detailed survey of the existing husbandry systems was done in the selected study area using a schedule. Collection of samples of water, soil, fodder and biological samples milk, meat, egg, blood and dung samples were collected and examined from both industrial and control area. The samples were analyzed for presence of heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead and arsenic by using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. A detailed survey was done among fifty farmers from the Plachimada (industrial area) and Nallepilly (control area) villages respectively. The farmers were interviewed with a schedule and the data was obtained. The socio-economic status of the farmers indicated that the middle aged persons were more involved in the agricultural and animal husbandry activities. Most of the farmers had an average monthly income per family of Rs. 2000 in the study area. Cultivation of crops and plantations were less in both industrial and control area. The study revealed that majority of the farmers possessed dairy cattle with major source of income from livestock farming in both these study areas. Economic viability of rearing cattle was better in control area than that of industrial area. Most of the farmers surveyed stayed very near to the industry in the industrial zone. The study revealed that nearness of the industry to the grazing lands may be affecting their livestock farming system. The presence of heavy metals cadmium and lead in drinking water and soil samples of industrial area was more than that of the control zone and the WHO (1995) recommendations. The presence of copper and cadmium in meat samples was higher whereas cadmium and lead in blood samples of the industrial area was found more than that of the control zone and the permitted levels as per the WHO recommendations. The level of copper, cadmium and lead in fodder, milk, egg and dung samples of the industrial area was found more than that of the control zone and the permitted levels as per the WHO recommendations. This study aimed also to find out the relationship between water, soil, plant and animal system. Correlation of fodder and blood heavy metals with other biological samples was done in industrial area. Fodder lead showed a highly significant correlation with milk lead content. Correlation between fodder arsenic and milk arsenic concentration was also significant. Correlation between fodder cadmium with blood cadmium was significant. Correlation was observed between fodder lead with dung lead values. Correlation existed between blood copper with dung copper at a significant level. Similarly correlation of fodder and blood heavy metals with other biological samples was done in control area also. Blood and fodder cadmium was significant and positively correlated. Correlation of fodder lead with milk and dung lead were significant. Fodder arsenic and milk arsenic were significantly correlated. In blood the copper content of milk and dung showed a positive significant correlation. The heavy metals lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury from industrial pollution are of high environmental concern due to their toxicity even at low concentrations. These metals may persist in the system for several days due to cumulative nature and may cause severe health effects in man and animals. Bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals, especially lead, cadmium and arsenic in milk, meat and in egg have evoked great concern during the recent years. Heavy metals contaminants may enter the animal system through pollution of air, water, soil, feed polluted by industrial sources. From the present study it was found that the industrial area had contaminated water, soil, and fodder under observation. The heavy metal contamination was from copper, cadmium and lead whereas arsenic was almost within the permissible limits. The biological samples milk, meat, egg, blood and dung collected from the industrial zone were also contaminated with copper, cadmium and lead when compared with the control area samples. The level of heavy metals in the biological samples of industrial area was above the WHO permissible limits. Arsenic was present within the maximum permissible level in all the biological samples. It is also concluded that industrialization may add pollutants to the area thereby causing an indirect effect on livestock production systems and in turn to the human beings. The following recommendations may be suggested. 1. Monitoring the level of pollution in water, soil, plants and fodder crops, animals and in man in industrial zones at regular intervals. 2. Treatment of waste water and other discharges/effluents from industries with implementation of strict rules and regulations 3. Safe disposal of the discharges, effluents and waste materials from the industries and factories. Efficient waste management to be adopted. 4. To create awareness among farming community to adopt better management practices. 5. Encouragement of organic farming. 6. Recommendation of rearing indigenous animals and adoption of Mixed farming - system to improve economic status of farmers. 7. Phytoremediation may be done to decontaminate soil and water to reduce the soil heavy metal content. 8. Identify and growing of trees/ plants to reduce the level of toxic elements from the industrial zones.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative evaluation of porcine production performance in terminally sired and purebred progenies under different management conditions
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Murugan, M; KAU; Joseph, Mathew
    A study was conducted to evaluate the production performance of terminally sired and purebred progenies under different management conditions. Twenty gilts were selected from Large White Yorkshire and also each combination of Large White Yorkshire x Landrace, Landrace x Desi and Large White Yorkshire x Desi . After attaining maturity, they were bred to terminal sire (Duroc). Large White Yorkshire was maintained as pure line. Litter performance of LWY and three breed combinations viz., D x (LWY x LR), D x (LR x Desi) and D x (LWY x Desi) were comparatively evaluated. Twenty four weaned piglets were selected at random from each genetic combination and they were divided into four groups having six animals in each group. Piglets T1 were fed with concentrate feed and T2, T3 and T4 from each genetic group were fed with left over food from hotels, restaurants, slaughter house waste and waste available from agricultural fields. In addition to this, T3 group were supplemented with inorganic minerals and T4 group were supplemented with organic minerals @ one per cent level on dry matter basis from third month to ten months of age. The crossbreds viz., D x (LWY x Desi) and D x (LR x Desi) had highly significant (P<0.01) difference in litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, birth weight, litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning and weaning weight compared to LWY and D x (LWY x LR) pigs. There was no significant difference between LWY and D x (LWY x LR) ; D x (LWY x Desi) and D x (LR x Desi) pigs in all these litter traits. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in maximum and minimum temperature and relative humidity between farm and field. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in mean rectal temperature, pulse and respiration rate between treatments and genetic groups. Significant difference (P<0.01) were observed between morning and afternoon pulse and respiratory rates irrespective of treatment and genetic groups. At the time of feeding, majority of the pigs in different treatments and genetic groups showed eating greedily with drooling of saliva and ear biting, belly nosing and tail biting very frequently. Quantity of faeces voided had a highly significant (P<0.01) difference between treatment in all four genetic groups. LWY pigs voided significantly lesser quantity of faeces than other genetic groups within the treatment. Frequency of defaecation had no significant difference, between treatments and genetic groups. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the faecal cortisol level between the treatments and genetic groups of pigs. The proximate composition (percentage) of pooled swill feed samples are comparable to farm concentrate except ether extract (24.56; 6.05 and 4.13) which was very higher in swill feed. Total ash content was higher in the farm concentrate (10.91, 10.13; 6.61). Availability of minerals was higher in inorganic form compared to organic form. Mineral assay revealed that chicken waste showed higher levels of minerals followed by hotel waste and vegetable waste. There was no significant difference between genetic groups within the treatment in serum mineral concentration. The feeding system had highly significant (P<0.01) effect on the mineral concentration. It was highest in T4 followed by T3 and T1 and least in T2. It was comparable between T3 and T2. There was no significant difference in monthly body weights (kg), body measurements viz., body length, girth and height (cm), average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake (g) of pigs between concentrate (T1) and swill feeding (T2). T4 significantly (P<0.01) better than other treatment groups. T3 was significantly (P<0.01) better than T2 and T1. Crossbred pigs had significantly (P<0.01) higher monthly body weight, linear body measurements, average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake than LWY pigs within the treatment. Among the three crossbreds there was no significant difference observed in monthly body weight, linear body measurements, average daily gain and average daily feed intake except in concentrate feeding. In concentrate feeding, D x (LWY x Desi) crossbred consumed significantly (P<0.01) less feed than the other crossbred pigs. There was significant (P<0.01) difference in feed efficiency between T1 and T2. No significant difference was observed between T2, T3 and T4. There was no significant difference between LWY and crossbred pigs within the treatment. T4 attained significantly (P<0.01) higher slaughter weight (kg), hot carcass weight (kg) and carcass length (cm) than the other treatment groups. T3 group attained significantly (P<0.01) higher slaughter weight, hot carcass weight and carcass length than the T2 and T1 treatment groups. No significant difference between T1 and T2 was noticed. T1 had significantly (P<0.01) higher dressing percentage than other treatment groups. T1 had significantly (P<0.01) lesser back fat thickness. There was no significant difference between T2, T3 and T4 in dressing percentage and back fat thickness. T2 had significantly (P<0.01) lesser loin eye area and meat-bone ratio than other treatment groups and there was no significant difference between T1 and T3 and T4. Gut weight was significantly (P<0.01) lesser in T1 than other treatment groups. There was no significant difference between T2, T3 and T4. There was significant (P<0.01) difference between LWY and crossbreds in terms of slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, carcass length, back fat thickness and loin eye area, within the treatment. There was no significant difference noticed between dressing percentage, meat-bone ratio and gut weight within the treatment. Cost of production per kg live weight on feed basis was high in T1 followed by T4, T3 and T2. It was inferred that swill feed supplemented with minerals can increase the profit margin provided a cheaper substitute for the organic minerals presently available in the market is absolutely essential for the field fattener pig production. Swill feed was found to be equally effective compared to concentrate feed in promoting growth of the fattener pig production existing under field conditions. Growth performance and carcass characteristics can be improved by supplementation of minerals in the diet of fattener pigs. Crossbred pigs excelled over pure LWY in terms of post weaning growth performance and carcass characteristics under terminally sired pigs. The crossbreds viz., D x (LR x Desi) and D x (LWY x Desi) had better litter performance than D x (LWY x LR) and LWY pigs. Considering both litter performance and post weaning growth performance, the recommendation is that D x (LR x Desi) and D x (LWY x Desi) crossbreds are best suited for the field fattener pig production in the hot-humid climatic conditions.