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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Open Access
Postnatal Development of the Oviduct in the Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Lucy, K M; KAU; Harshan, K R
The structure and postnatal development of the oviduct in quails were investigated using 72 birds aged from day-old to 60 days. The growth, morphology and histology of the oviduct were studied using six birds at each age group. In the day-old quail chick, the oviduct could seen as a narrow white translucent tube towards the left side of the coelom connected by dorsal and ventral ligaments. The sign of coiling was evident from 25 days of age. In the initial stages, the increase in weight and length of oviduct was in accordance with the growth of the bird. Rapid changes in the development of the organ occurred between 30 and 4 0 days of age and a spurt in growth was noticed from 40-60 days of age. In the day-old chick, the cranial regions of the oviduct corresponding to the infundibulum, magnum and isthmus were undifferentiated. Throughout the length of the oviduct, histological appearance was the same. The mucosa was thrown into low primary folds lined by simple columnar epithelium and there was subepithelial connective tissue containing densely packed cells with fine collagen and reticular fibres. The large number of luminal epithelial cells and the increase in height of the mucosal folds indicated entry into a rapid growth phase which started between 30 and 40 days of age. In the adult bird, the innermost epithelium of the different segments of the oviduct consisted of ciliated columnar cells and secretory goblet cells. Lamina propria was packed with tubular glands except in the funnel of infundibulum, magnum-isthmus junction and vagina. Bundles of collagen and a few elastic and reticular fibres constituted the core of the mucosal folds. Mucosal folds also contained lymphocytes in diffuse form and nodular aggregates. Thickness of the tunica muscularis increased from the anterior to the posterior end of the oviduct. Externally there was a typical serosa
Open Access
Postnatal development of the bursa of fabricius in duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
(Department of Anatomy, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Indu, V Raj; KAU; Jose John Chungath
The structure and post natal development of the bursa of Fabricious in White Pekin ducks were investigated using 51 birds aged from day – old to 155 – days. The growth, morphology and histology of the bursa were studied using three birds of each age group. In the day – old ducklings, the bursa could be seen as a smooth, yellow, elongated blind sac – like structure with a tapering apex. By 155 days it was a cylintrical and much reduced pale structure. In all the birds, the bursa communicated with the proctodeum of cloaca by a short stalk. The inner surface of bursa contained two large well – developed plicae on the ventral aspect and about five to eight smaller folds all round the circumference. The number of plicae increased upto 30 days of post natal life. After 80 days a decreasing trend was recorded in their number. After hatch, the bursal growth rate was not in proportion to that of body. It showed a decreasing trend after attaining peak values at five days of age. Though the bursa weight varied with variation in the age and body weight of the bird, a greater percentage variation in its weight was accounted for by body weight. The weight, length, diameter and plical measurements of bursa attained maximum average values at 58 days of age indicating that the bursa of ducks may be most functional at this age. Histologically, the wall of the bursa was divided into three tunics in birds of all ages. The outermost, tunica serosa enveloped the entire organ and increased in thickness gradually. The middle, tunica muscularis consisted of an outer circular and inner longitudinal layer of smooth muscle fibres with blood vessels in between. The innermost, tunica mucosa consisted of pseudostratified lining epithelium and lamina propria filled with follicles. The epithelium was distinguished into follicle associated epithelium and interfollicular epithelium. Each follicle consisted of a cortex and medulla separated by a layer of epithelial cells with distinct basement membrane in birds of all ages. Lymphoblast, lymphocytes and macrophages formed the cellular component of the follicle. The number, size and cellular details of lymphoid follicles attained their peak – values by about 58 to 65 days of post hatch period. The interfollicular and subepithelial connective tissue was made up of collagen and reticular fibres with a few elastic fibres. The cellular component in it included plasma cells, eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages and fat cells. Involutory changes in the bursa were recorded from 95 – days post hatch characterised by degeneration of plical epithelium and follicular atrophy. Prominent microscopic features of involution were evident from 140 days of age. The bursa showed follicular degeneration, fibrosis of subepithelialstroma, collapse of plicae, depletion of lymphocytes and fatty replacement of the organ. The lining epithelial cells of bursal mucosa revealed positive reaction to Schiff’s reagent and metachromasia in birds of all ages. Intense acid phosphatase and moderate alkaline phosphatase activity was noticed in the epithelial cells of the bursa, in all the birds. The maximum positive immunoperoxidase activity seen by about 35 to 58 days of age suggested that immunologically the bursa was at its peak functional activity at this age.
Open Access
Postnatal development of the upper digestive tract in the Japanese quail
(Department of Anatomy, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Maya, S; KAU; Lucy Paily
The structure and postnatal development of the upper digestive tract of Japanese quails were studied using 72 birds aged from day-old to 60 days for proper understanding of their functional peculiarities. The growth, morphology and histology of the tongue, pharynx, cervical and thoracic parts of oesophagus, crop, proventriculus and gizzard were studied using six birds at each age group. The age groups studied were at three days interval upto 15 days and thereafter at five days interval upto 30 days and then at ten days interval upto 60 days of age. Maximum weight of each part was recorded at 60 days of age. But maximum contribution to body weight by each part occurred within the first week of age. The tongue, pharynx and oesophagus were lined by stratified squamous epithelium, which showed keratinization on the anterior two-third of the ventral surface of the tongue and on the papillae of the tongue and pharynx. Filiform, conical and fungiform papillae were present on the base of the tongue. The rostral lingual glands contained both serous and mucous end pieces, but posterior glands showed only mucous cells. The taste buds were associated with the glandular ducts. The skeleton of the tongue showed signs of ossification from 30th day of age, with the tip of the entoglossal bone remaining cartilaginous even upto 60 days of age. In the pharynx, pharyngeal tonsil and palatine, sphenopterygoid and cricoarytenoid salivary glands were noticed. In addition to mucous and pieces the medial palatine glands exhibited serous and pieces also. Within the choanal slit and laryngeal inlet the squamous epithelium changed into respiratory epithelium. Laryngeal cartilages were cricoids, procricoid and paired arytenoids. The oesophagus was represented by a long cervical and short thoracic parts with a diverticulum, the crop. The epithelium on the top of the longitudinal mucosal folds was higher in the cervical oesophagus. Mucous glands were present throughout the oesophagus and crop but much reduced in the greater curvature of the crop and lymphoid tissue was absent at the region. Muscularis mucosa and submucosa entered into the longitudinal folds. Tunica muscularis consisted of iner circular and outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscles. Tunica adventitia was the outermost layer. A well developed oesophageal tonsil was present at the oesophago- proventricular junction. THh spindle-shaped proventriculars had a mucosa studied with minute nodules. Surface epithelium consisted of cuboidal to columnar cells. Lamina propria contained simple tubular glands. Muscularis mucosa consisted of scattered bundles of longitudinagl smooth muscle fibres. The compound tubular glands in the submucosa were lined by oxyntico peptic cells which had a dentate appearance. Tunica muscularis consisted of inner and oter longitudinal and middle circular layers of smooth muscle fibres. Outermost was the serosa. At the isthmus, the glands and outer longitudinal muscle layer of proventriculus disappeared and the lamina propria contained glands similar to those of gizzard. The biconvex dis-shaped gizzard had a greater dorsoventral diameter than cranio – caudal diameter. Internal to the serous lining was the tendon layer which was thickest at the tendinous aponeurosis and absent at the blind sacs. The lateral muscles consisted of a single layer of smooth muscle where as the blind sacs had inner longitudinal and outer circular muscle layers. Submucosa was dense and the muscularis mucosa absent. The tubular gland in the lamina propria were lined mainly by chief cells, and few basal and intermediate cells.Tall columnar cells which showed supranuclear PAS positive reaction, constituted the surface epithelium. The gizzard lining consisted of arrays of vertical columns, secreted by the tubular glands and a matrix produced by surface cells. The junction of gizzard with duodenum was marked by a constriction of muscularis mucosa forming a fold of the muscularis and tunica propria. Posterior to the fold spatula –shaped duodenal villi and coiled tubular glands with goblet cells were observed.
Open Access
Postnatal development of upper digestive tract in the duck
(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1990) Shyla Paulose; KAU; Ommer, P A
The structure and postnatal development of the upper digestive tract of ducks at different stages of growth was studied using 72 white pekin ducklings aged from day-old to 180 days for the proper understanding of their functional peculiarities. The growth, morphology and histology of the tongue, pharynx, oesophagus and crop, proventriculus and gizzard were studied using six birds at each age group. The oesophagus and the gizzard attained the maximum growth by 75 days whereas the tongue, pharynx, and the proventriculus at 150 days of age. The tongue, pharynx and oesophagus were lined by stratified squamous epithelium. Herbst’s, Grandry’s and Meissaner’s corpuscles, ganglion cells and encapsulated spherical bodies were present in the tongue. Filiform, fungiform and conical papillae, many taste buds, anterior and posterior lingual holocrine mucous glands were observed in the tongue. The tip of the entoglossal bone remained cartilaginous and showed signs of ossification from eighth day of age. Within the choanal slit, cavernous tissue covered by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium was present. In pharynx, pharyngeal tonsils, palatine, sphenopterygoid and laryngeal salivary glands were noticed. At the inlet of the larynx, the epithelium changed to pseudostratified ciliated columnar. The laryngeal cartilages were cricoids, procricoid and paired arytenoids. The oesophagus consisted of longer cervical part, spindle shaped crop and short thoracic part. The longitudinal mucosal folds were more at the crop and the microscopic papillae appeared on the crop and thoracic oesophagus from 15 days of age. The mucous glands were present throughout the esophagus and crop. The muscularis mucosa and submucosa were absent. Tunica muscularis consisted of inner longitudinal and outer circular layer of smooth muscles. The adventitial cost was replaced by a layer of serosa in the thoracic part. A well developed oesophageal tonsil was present at the oesophage –proventricular junction. The elongated proventriculus had narrow cranial and wider caudal ends with numerous small papillae containing the opening of the proventricular gland. The mucosal folds were lined by cuboidal to columnar cells. The superficial proprial glands showed zonation. The unilobular compound tubular glands were lined by oxyntico-peptic cells which had a dentate appearance. In the day –old ducklings, the lobules were elongated in the anterior and middle part and in the posterior portion they were small and polygonal in shape. From 15 days onwards, most of the gland lobules were round or polygonal in cross section. The central cavity of the gland and the duct were lined by tall columnar cells which were PAS positive. The muscularis mucosa as a distinct layer was not seen and the submucosa was absent, Tunica muscularis consisted of inner and outer longitudinal and middle circular layer of smooth muscles and invested by the serous layer. At the isthmus, the proventricular glands and the outer longitudinal muscle layer were absent and the lamina propria contained glands similar to gizzard glands. The gizzard had greater dorso-ventral diameter than cranic –caudal diameter except in day-old ducklings in which the reverse was true. The tendon layer was thickest at the tendinous aponeurosis and absent in the blind sacs. The lateral muscle consisted of single layer of circular smooth muscle whereas the blind sacs had inner longitudinal and outer circular layers of smooth muscle. Submucosa was dense and the muscularis mucosa was absent. The simple tubular gizzard gland was lined mainly by chief cells. The chief cell granules and the luminal contents showed similar reactions in PTAH and trichrome staining. The surface epithelium showed papillary projections and were lined by tall columnar cells which showed supranuclear PAS positive reaction. The thickness of the glandular layer and the gizzard lining consisted of arrays of vertical columns secreted by the tubular glands and the matrix produced by the surface cells. The lining was strongly adherent to the musculature and could not be peeled off. The blood and nerve supplies to these organs were studied using embalmed carcasses and angiograms.
Open Access
Postnatal development of the oviduct in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)
(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1994) Lucy, K M; KAU; Harshan, K R
The structure and postnatal development of the oviduct in quails were investigated using 72 birds aged from day-old to 60 days. The growth, morphology and histology of the oviduct were studied using six birds at each age group. In the day-old quail chick, the oviduct could seen as a narrow white translucent tube towards the left side of the coelom connected by dorsal and ventral ligaments. The sign of coiling was evident from 25 days of age. In the initial stages, the increase in weight and length of oviduct was in accordance with the growth of the bird. Rapid changes in the development of the organ occurred between 30 and 40 days of age and a sprut in growth was noticed from 40-60 days of age. In the day-old chick, the cranial regions of the oviduct corresponding to the infundibulum, magnum and isthmus were undifferentiated. Throughout the length of the oviduct, histological appearance was the same. The mucosa was thrown into low primary folds lined by simple columnar epithelium and there was subepithelial connective tissue containing densely packed cells with fine collagen and reticular fibres. The large number of luminal epithelial cells and the increase in height of the mucosal folds indicated entry into a rapid growth phase which started between 30 and 40 days of age. In the adult bird, the innermost epithelium of the different segments of the oviduct consisted of ciliated columnar cells and secretary goblet cells. Lamina propria was packed with tabular glands except in the funnel of infundibulum, magnum-isthumas junction and vagina. Bundles of collagen and a few elastic and reticular fibres constituted the core of the mucosal folds. Mucosal folds also contained lymphocytes in diffuse form and nodular aggregates. Thickness of the tunica muscularis increased from the anterior to the posterior end of the oviduct. Externally there was a typical serosa. Mucosal ridges of the thin walled funnel of the infundibulum were narrow and at the bases of these ridges were the glandular grooves. Tunica muscularis consisted of circularly arranged fibres and scattered bundles. Within the neck of the infundibulum, height of the mucosal ridges was more. Lining cells of the tubular glands showed PAS +ve reaction. Magnum was the longest and most coiled component of the oviduct, the wall of which was thicker due to the greatest development of tubular glands. Mucosal ridges of the isthumus were angular in appearance. Apex of the lining epithelium presented glycogen granules. Tunica muscularis consisted of inner circular and outer poorly developed longitudinal smooth muscle separated by loose connective tissue and blood vessels. Uterus was wider and thinner than the cranial portions in day-old bird itself. Secondary mucosal folds and scattered muscle fibres could be noticed at 15 days of age. In the adult bird, mucosal was thrown into numerous long, flat, discontinuous, spatula – shaped folds lined by alternating spical and basal cells. Lamina propria was loosely packed with tubular glands. Tunica muscularis was better developed with inner circular and irregular bundles and outer longitudinal muscle layer. Ultero – vaginal junction was characterized by the presence of sperm – host glands. In the vagina, mucosal folds were narrow and regular. Lining epithelium was higher . Musculature was thickest in this region. Acid and alkaline phosphatase activities were detected throughout the oviduct, the greatest activity being in the uterine region.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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