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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
    Studies on pathological conditions in the mammary glands of cattle and goats
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1976) Lalitha Kunjamma, C R; KAU; Krishnan Nair, M
    An investigation was carried out to study the pathological lesions encountered in the mammary glands of cattle and goats from specimens selected from slaughter house and autopsy cases. The somatic cell count in milk from clinical and sub – clinical cases of mastitis was also undertaken. Two hundred quarters from cows and 67 halves from goats were subjected to detailed histopathological investigation. Mastitis was found to be the important type of lesion encountered. Lesions varied from subtle changes to intensive involvement with complete obliteration and atrophy. The lesions encountered were catarrhal mastitis and galactophoritis, suppurative mastitis, acute diffuse mastitis, necrotising mastitis, gangrenous mastitis, interstitial mastitis and tuber - culous mastitis. Other significant alternations associated with or without mastitis were congestion and oedema, squamous metaplasia of lining epithelium of ducts and cisterns and calcification of vessel walls. The calcification of the vessels was similar to that observed in ‘Monckeberg’s sclerosis’ in human beings. No tumours were found. It was suggested that lymphoid cells found in the interstitial septa of the mammary glands of goats affected with John’s disease might be the ‘T’ type of lymphocytes which are concerned with cellular immunity. The cystic changes encountered in the glands were not considered as the separate entity – Fibrocystic disease – but only compensatory processes as a result of fibrosis and atrophy of some part of the glandular and ductal system. Micro concretions were constantly observed and it was suggested that calcium got deposited over inspissated and hyalinised milk proteins. A total of 189 quarter samples of milk was also examined for total somatic cell count, differential count and by culturally for the presence of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The total cell count in normal milk of cows and goats varied from 150,000 to 500,000 per ml. In sub – clinical and clinical cases upto 30,000,000 cells per ml could be counted. The percentage of neutrophils in normal milk was below 31% in goats and 43% in cows. The corresponding maximum values in mastitic cases were 88% and 92% respectively. In both cows and goats the chief etiological agent for mastitis as found in the present study was Staphylococcus. Other organisms encountered were Strephylococcus, Coliforms and Corynebacteria.