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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
    Ochratoxicosis in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with special reference to Inununopathological response
    (Centre of Excellence in Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1992) Amir Abbas, Farshid; KAU; Rajan, A
    In this investigation the pathological effects of OA in quail embryo and adult quail were studied with special reference to the immune system. Ochratoxin A (OA) was inoculated into the quail embryos, at the dose rate of 0.02 ^g per embryo. There was 68.66 per cent mortality which clearly indicated the direct action of OA. The embryos which were sacrificed on the 13th and 16th day of incubation showed significant reduction in the body weight, weight of bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus. Histological changes in these lymphoid organs were, atrophy, necrosis and depletion of lymphoid elements. Ultrastructurally the changes were time dependent. There were changes in the shape of the nucleus with condensation of granular and fibrillar components of the nucleoli. The adverse immunobiological effect of OA on the developing lymphoid organs was established by histological and ultra structural studies. OA at the dose rate of 50 /ag/bird/day for a period of 60 days was administered through oesophageal intubation. Pathological changes were sequentially documented with special reference to the immune system. In the OA fed quails, the clinical signs included emaciation and hyperexcitation at the later part of the experiment. There was highly significant reduction in the body weight, weight of bursa of Fabricius, spleen and thymus. The reduction in the weight of lymphoid organs gave evidence to the adverse effects of OA on the immune system. There was reduction in the total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and packed cell volume in OA fed birds indicating the significant damaging effect on the haemopoietic sytem. Estimation of total serum protein (TSP), serum globulin (SGI) and serum immunoglobulin fractions clarified the biological adverse effect of OA on the humoral immune system. Highly significant reduction in total leukocyte count (TLC) and T cell dependent lymphopenia proved the immunosuppressive effect of OA. There was reduction in T cells, increase migration indices in response to Fowl pox antigen in leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT), the reduction in the cutaneous response to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) and phytohaemagglutinin-M (PHA-M) and spleen indices in the graft versus host reaction (GVHR), clarified the immunotoxicity of OA on the cell-mediated immune system.