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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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19771
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Subject: Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics × Author: KAU × Author: Madhavan, E × End date: 1997 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of early weaning on the reproductive performance of sows
    (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1977) Madhavan, E; KAU; Surendra Varma Raja, C K
    The object of the study was to find out how early weaning of piglets could be practiced for a profitable swine industry. For this, two aspects were investigated; (1) Post weaning reproductive performance of the sow (2) the growth rate and survival capacity of weaned piglets. The experiment was conducted on 24 gilts of same age group selected at random from the University Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy. On farrowing, the sows (with their litters) were divided into four groups of six animals each. The piglets in groups I, II, III and IV were respectively weaned at 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th day of farrowing. The weaned piglets were maintained upto 60 days on creep feed of the same composition. The sows were fed on farm ration. The observations made and inferences drawn are summarized below: There was no significant verification in the onset of post – weaning heat, conception rate, litter size and litter weight in sows of different groups. At the same time, there was a significant reduction in the inter-farrowing period when weaning was done during early lactation. This was considered as an important criteria in favour of early weaning. As far as the post-weaning performance of the piglets were concerned, it was observed that the gain in weight of piglets weaned at 45th day was significantly higher than the other three groups. Probably, the low gain in body weight of the early weaned piglets could be improved by feeding them with creep feed of superior quality. Post-weaning mortality observed in early weaned piglets was well within the permissible limit. To sum up, it may be stated that weaning of piglets at 15th day of farrowing would be of advantage for the over all increase in the productivity of swine.