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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: Poultry Science × Author: Bhadra, P V × Author: KAU × End date: 2008 × Start date: 2008 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Dietary supplementation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and tulasi (Ocimum sanctum) in layer quails (Coturnix coturnix)
    (Department Of Poultry Sciences,College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2008) Bhadra, P V; KAU; Anitha, P
    An experiment was carried out to study the effect of dietary supplementation of turmeric and tulasi on production performance of Japanese quail layers. One hundred and sixty Japanese quails at 6 weeks of age were allocated randomly to four dietary groups with four replicates of ten quails each. Quail layer ration containing 22 per cent crude protein and 2650 kcal ME per kg feed formed the control diet T1. The control diet supplemented with dried turmeric rhizome powder, dried tulasi leaves and a combination of both each at 0.3 per cent level formed the diets T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The experiment was carried out for five periods of 28 days each from 7 to 26 weeks of age. The body weight at 6 and 26 weeks of age and the body weight gain during experimental period did not differ significantly between dietary treatments. Even though the age at first egg in the flock in dietary groups T1, T2, T3 and T4 was 48, 50, 49 and 49 days respectively, the mean age at 50 per cent production were almost similar in all dietary groups. The results obtained in the study revealed that period wise and cumulative mean values of quail housed and quail day egg number and per cent production, egg mass, daily feed consumption, FCR per dozen eggs and per kg egg mass did not differ significantly between dietary groups. The overall mean egg weight for three consecutive days towards the end of 10,14, 18, 22 and 26 weeks of age were non significant. Statistical analysis of the data pertaining to dressed, eviscerated, giblet and ready-to-cook yields revealed no significant difference between dietary groups. The loss of blood in dietary groups were significantly (P≤0.05) higher in group in T1 in comparison with group T4. While the mean values of feather loss showed no significant difference. The dietary supplementation of turmeric and tulasi combination (T4) significantly improved the haemoglobin and total leucocyte count in comparison with the control group whereas total erythrocyte count revealed no significant difference. The mean values of total cholesterol in serum differed significantly among each other (P≤0.05). Egg yolk cholesterol in group T3 and T4 showed significantly lower values in comparison with T1 (P≤0.05). Serum protein level in various dietary groups did not differ significantly among each other. The overall livability per cent was not adversely affected in turmeric and tulasi fed quails. The cost of feed per egg was lower in T2 and T3 (Rs. 0.43) compared to T1 (Rs. 0.47) and was intermediary in T4 (Rs. 0.45). The critical evaluation of the results revealed that the supplementation of dried turmeric and tulasi leaves separately and in combination, each at 0.3 per cent level in quail layer diets resulted in numerical increase in egg production leading to economical advantages.