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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
    Seroepidemiology of Bovine Brucellosis
    (Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Priya, P; KAU; Vijayakumar, K
    An investigation was carried out on 1602 cattle and buffaloes of Kerala including 1535 cattle and 67 buffaloes to assess the seroprevalence of brucellosis using serological tests like Rose Bengal plate' test, Standard tube agglutination test, 2-Mercaptoethanol test and Avidin-Biotin ELISA. Sera samples were collected from bovines belonging to different farms, hospitals and households of Kerala covering eleven districts. Samples were collected randomly from animals of different sex, age, breed, gestation, lactation, reproductive performance, management practices and also from slaughter house. Out of the 1602 sera samples tested 15.29 per cent gave positive result for brucella antibodies. Of this cattle showed a seropositivity of 14.72 per cent and buffaloes showed 28.35 per cent seropositivity. Female cattle and female buffaloes showed higher seroprevalence than male cattle and male buffaloes. Bulls and cows aged more than five years showed the highest seropositivity. Among the breeds pure bred Holstein Friesian bulls and crossbred Jersey female cattle showed the highest seroprevalence. Seroprevalence of brucellosis was found higher in pregnant cattle, in late stage of gestation, in pregnant dry animals and also in cows and heifers with the history of repeat breeding. Animals maintained under unorganised farming system, animals from high altitude agroecological region showed more number of positive reactors. Northern zone of Kerala showed more number of positive reactors. Districtwise analysis revealed that animals belonging to Kozhikode district having highest seropositivity and animals from Kottayam and Malappuram districts as zero positives. RBPT, STA T and 2 MET was evaluated for the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and accuracy using, A-B ELISA as the 'gold standard'. RBPT was found to have higher sensitivity, predictive value of a negative test and accuracy than STAT and 2 MET and all the three tests found to have 100 per cent specificity and predictive value of a positive test with that of ELISA. It was concluded that RBPT can be used as a preliminary screening test and ELISA as a confirmatory diagnostic test.