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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
    Helminth parasites of mammals in Thrissur Zoo
    (Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1999) Varadharajan, A; KAU; Pythal, C
    An investigation on the prevalence of helminthic infections among the wild mammals in captivity in the Thrissur Zoo and also the variations thereof on account of season, age and sex were carried out by regular faecal examination using the concentration method of centrifugation-cum-sedimentation technique, over a period of one year from May-'98 to April-'99. Non-specific symptoms like general ,weakness, debility, occasional diarrhoea, dehydration and respiratory distress with cough were observed in a variety of mammals. The overall prevalence of the helminthic infection among the mammals was 68.05 per cent. Carnivores had the highest prevalence of infection (75.34%) when compared to herbivores (67.47%) and omnivores (65.35%). Strongyle, Strongyloides spirurid, ascarid, amphistome, Fasciola, Trichuris and Parascaris infections in a variety of herbivores; strongyle, Strongyloides, spirurid, Ancylostpma, Capillaria, Toxocara, Trichuris, Metagonimus, Artyfechinostomum and Hymenolepis infections in a variety of omnivores and Ancylostoma, Toxocara, Toxascaris, Strongyloides, Capillaria, spirurid, Diphyllobothrium, Hymenolepis and Paragonimus infections in a variety of carnivores were observed. A few specimens of Haemonchus contortus were recovered from the abomasum of a 6 year old female balckbuck during post-mortem examination. The overall prevalence of infection among the mammals was higher in the rainy seasons (South-West and North-East monsoons) than in the dry season. The prevalence of, infection was higher in the adults of herbivores and omnivores than in the young ones of both the groups. The prevalence was also higher in the males of herbivores and carnivores than in the females and was more or less equal in both sexes of omnivores. Treatments with Fenbendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate were effective against gastro-intestinal nematodes in camels and in Asiatic lions respectively. Control measures for the helminthic infections in the zoo < mammals have also been suggested.