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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
    Pathology of experimental hypothyroidism in goats
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1979) Sreekumaran, T; KAU; Rajan, A
    An experimental model of hypothyroid state was induced in kids, using different dose regimes of thiourea with the objective of studying sequence of clinic – pathological changes in different levels of hypothyroidism and its influence on the animal health and growth. Twelve cross – bred clinically healthy kids of the age group between 3 – 4 months were employed for the study. The animals were randomly divided into a control group of four animals and experimental group of eight animals. Experimental hypothyroidism was induced by feeding thiourea at the dose levels of 100 g, 150 g, 200 g and 250 g per kg body weight. Haemogram, body weight, plasma proteins, serum cholesterol and PBI values were estimated at periodic intervals. The kids were subjected to detailed autopsy after death/sacrifice. Gross lesions were recorded and detailed histopathological examination of tissues was carried out employing special stains wherever necessary. During the course of observation for a period of three months all the kids dosed with thiourea died at varying intervals except the kids in the lowest dosage group. There was stunting of growth and appreciable reduction in weight of the animals. Weakness, lethargy, depression, reduction in feed intake, sub- cutaneous oedema of varying degree were the important clinical features observed. There was significant increase in blood cholesterol values and plasma protein levels in thiourea dosed kids. A significant reduction in serum PBI was also recorded. There was significant increase in the relative weight of thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands of animals in the experimental group. Gelatinisation of subcutaneous fat and hypertrophy and dilatation of the left ventricle were common findings at autopsy. Histologically the thyroid glands exhibited varying degree of hyperplastic changes and depletion of colloid in the follicles. Hyperplasia and hypertrophy of lining epithelium was also observed. Predominant histological change in the pituitary was hyperplasia and hypertrophy of basophil cells and degenerative changes in the acidophils. Hepatic lipidosis was a common observation. Histological lesions in the skin were similar to that reported in human myxoedema. Adrenal glands showed hypertrophy, depletion of fat and focal areas of haemorrhage in the zona fasiculata. In all the hypothyroid kids, varying degrees of degenerative changes were observed in the gonads indicating that in hypothyroidism fertility will be seriously affected.