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

20061
Reset filters
Subject: Veterinary Anatomy and Histology × Start date: 1962 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphological and histological studies on the skin of the pig (sus domesticus)
    (Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2006) Sumena, K B; KAU; Lucy, K M
    Studies on the skin of Large White Yorkshire pigs were conducted using 12 animals of six to ten months of age. The project was undertaken to study the morphology, morphometry, histology and the distribution of hair and to compare the sex differences if any, in the skin of pig. Skin samples were collected from eight areas of the body viz., the snout, dorsal nasal, dorsal neck, ventral neck, dorsal abdomen, lateral abdomen, ventral abdomen and carpal regions. After recording gross parameters, material was fixed in 10 per cent neutral buffered formalin and standard procedures were adopted for histoarchitectural and histochemical studies. In general, skin of male animals was slightly thicker than that of the females. Maximum thickness for the skin, epidermis and the dermis was noticed in the snout and minimum in the ventral abdomen. Skin was thicker on the dorsal surface of the body than on the ventral surface. Contribution of the epidermis to the total skin thickness was maximum in the snout region. Subcutaneous fat layer was slightly thicker in females. A highly significant positive correlation was noticed between the skin thickness and the thickness of the epidermis in the snout, dorsal nasal and carpal regions in both male and female animals. Among the five layers of the epidermis, stratum basalis, spinosum and corneum were always present and formed continuous layers throughout the body surface. The stratum granulosum was not continuous in ventral neck and lateral and ventral abdominal regions. A definite stratum lucidum was seen only in the snout, dorsal nasal and ventral abdominal areas. The rete pegs and the dermal papillae were most abundant in the snout region and minimum in the lateral abdominal region. Stratum basalis was made up of a single layer of columnar to cuboidal cells. Clear cells could be located in the stratum basalis and stratum spinosum. Stratum spinosum was the thickest layer of the epidermis consisting of large, irregular and polyhedral cells with distinct boundaries. Prekeratin granules were detected in the upper layers of stratum spinosum. Thickness of this layer was maximum in the snout. Stratum granulosum consisted of two to four rows of flattened, diamond-shaped cells. Cytoplasm showed keratohyalin granules. Stratum lucidum appeared as a clear, bright, homogenous, strongly eosinophilic layer. Stratum corneum consisted of keratinized, scale-like polygonal, clear cells. There was a significant positive correlation between the thickness of the skin and that of dermis in all regions under study in both sexes. Papillary layer of the dermis was made up of collagen fibres predominantly, which were finer and more closely arranged. Reticular layer consisted of large, coarse and loosely interwoven bundles of collagen fibres. Glomi were most numerous in the snout. Hair arrangement in swine was simple, but grouping of hairs was evident. Maximum hair density was noticed in the dorsal nasal area. Density of hair distribution was more in the male animals. Hair shaft was composed of a cuticle, thicker cortex and slender medulla. Hair follicle was composed of four parts, viz., hair papilla, hair matrix, inner root sheath and outer root sheath. Largest arrector muscles were noticed in the abdomen dorsal region. Interfollicular muscle connected adjacent hair follicles of its characteristic hair group. Sweat glands were of apocrine type in all the regions under study except in the snout and dorsal nasal regions where it was of eccrine type. In the latter, both clear and dark cells were identified. Sebaceous glands appeared as large, lobulated, sac-like structures associated with the hair follicles. The secretory units consisted of a solid mass of epidermal cells. Maximum subcutaneous fat thickness was noticed at the neck dorsal region. The subcutaneous tissue was composed of a loose meshwork of connective tissue fibres, cells, blood vessels and nerve fibres. PAS - alcian blue positive areas were detected in middle region of the epidermis and ground substance of the dermis. Cells of stratum corneum, stratum spinosum, sebaceous glands, their ducts and clear cells of eccrine sweat glands showed a positive reaction to Oil Red O. Most of the layers of the epidermis and the dermal papillae, blood vessels surrounding the hair follicles and the sweat glands showed a positive reaction to alkaline phosphatase. Epidermis and sebaceous glands showed a positive reaction for acid phosphatase.