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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Calcium and phsophorus requirements of caged layers
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 1986) Brahma, T C; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A
    A 4 x 4 factorial arrangement to determine the dietary requirements of calcium and phosphorus for caged layers under the hot-humid agro-climatic conditions of Kerala is presented in this thesis. Two hundred fifty six single comb White leghorn strain cross pullets (IWN x IWP ) of the Mannuthy Centre of AICRP on Poultry foe eggs formed the experimental birds. The birds were randomly assigned to 16 dietary calcium-phosphorus combination groups. The dietary calcium levels employed were 2.50, 3.00, 3.50 and 4.00 per cent and that of phosphorus levels wee 0.50 , 0.60, 0.70 and 0.80 percent the observations of the experiment were recorded over 10,28 day – periods The percent hen-day egg production and feed efficiency (both on egg number and egg mass) were significantly (P < 0.01) superior in birds fed 4.00 percent dietary calcium. The dietary levels of phosphorus had not exerted any influence on hen-day egg production and feed efficiency. The feed intake and egg weight were not influenced either by the dietary levels of calcium or phosphorus or both. The egg shell quality (specific gravity and shell thickness ) was significantly (P < 0.01 ) better in egg laid by hens fed 3.50 and 4.00 percent dietary calcium. The percent egg shell was significantly (p< 0.01) highest with 3.50 percent calcium. However, percent egg shell between 3.50 and 4.00 percent dietary calcium was not statistically different. The egg shell quality (specific gravity, shell thickness and percent shell) was significantly (P< 0.01) poorest with 2.50 percent calcium diet. The dietary phosphorus levels had not exerted any significant influence on egg shell quality (specific gravity, shell thickness and percent shell). The serum calcium level, serum inorganic phosphorus level and percent tibia ash were not influenced by the levels of dietary calcium and phosphorus . The serum alkaline and acid phosphatase levels did not give any clue as to the adequacy of the dietary calcium and phosphorus level employed. The calcium intake was higher with higher levels of dietary calcium. There was a trend of increased absolute calcium retention as the calcium level in the diets increased but it was not statistically significant. Dietary phosphorus levels positively improved absolute retention calcium. The mortality among birds were nit suggestive of any influence due to dietary calcium and phosphorus. The results of experiments revealed that in terms of any of the major economic traits used for evaluating the dietary calcium adequacy of caged layers, 4.00 percent calcium was found to be superior over the other levels. In respect of dietary phosphorus, the levels of 0.50 per cent seems to be adequate but the absolute retention of phosphorus was negative at this level of incorporation irrespective of calcium levels. Therefore, it will be more logical to set the requirements of dietary phosphorus at 0.60 per cent than at 0.50