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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
    Performance of Gramalakshmi and Gramasree chicken layers under backyard system
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 2010) Ajith Babu, B; KAU; Peethambaran, P A
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Production performance of Japanese quails reared on different protein levels
    (College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Padwal, N P; KAU; Anitha, P
    The experiment was conducted in Japanese quails from 0 to 26 weeks of age including starter, grower and layer phases to study the production performance of Japanese quail when reared on different protein levels. Six hundred (600), day-old Japanese quail chicks belonging to single hatch were allotted randomly to three treatment groups with four replicates of fifty quails each. At the end of sixth week, sixteen female quails were selected from each replicate and housed in layer cages to assess the production performance of one hundred and ninety two (192) layer quails in three treatment groups of four replicates for the period of twenty weeks. Three types of iso-caloric diets (2800 kcal/kg) with different protein levels viz; 23, 25 and 27 per cent were used for three treatment groups T1, T2 and T3, respectively during starter phase (0-3 weeks of age). The protein levels used during grower phase (4 to 6 weeks) were 23 per cent in groups T1 and T2 and 24 per cent in group T3. During layer phase (7-26 weeks of age), all treatment groups were fed with same type of diet containing 22 per cent crude protein and 2650 kcal/kg ME. The body weight during experimental period at 3, 6 and 26 weeks of age did not differ significantly between dietary treatments. The results revealed that during starter (0 to 3 weeks) and grower phase (4 to 6 weeks) cumulative feed intake and FCR based on body weight gain did not differ significantly between dietary treatments. During Layer phase (7 to 26 weeks), the age at first egg, 10 and 50 per cent production was similar in all the treatment groups. Mean values of quail housed and quail day egg number and per cent production, egg mass, mean egg weight, mean cumulative daily feed consumption, period wise and cumulative FCR per dozen eggs and per kg eggs during layer phase did not differ significantly in all the treatment groups. The overall livability per cent during starter, grower and layer phases were not adversely affected due to different dietary protein levels during growing period. The margin of returns per quail housed over feed cost was significantly (P≤0.05) lower in group T3 (Rs -0.63) than T2 (Rs 0.36) and T1 (Rs 0.32) during growing period (0 to 6 weeks) The evaluation of the results revealed that quail chicks fed with diet containing 23 per cent crude protein in comparison with high protein (25 and 27 per cent crude protein) diets during growing period did not affect body weight gain and egg production traits. Therefore it can be recommended that diet with 23 per cent crude protein can be efficiently and economically used during the growing period of the layer Japanese quail.