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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 the reproductive system in ducks
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Jayakumar, P M; KAU; Valsala, K V
    A study was conducted on the pathology of the reproductive system in ducks. A survey conducted on the prevalence of diseases based on the data for a period of 11 years at the Government Duck Farm, Niranam revealed the incidence of hepatosis (64.58%), hepatitis (9.07%), enteritis (8.58%), tuberculosis (2.61%) and miscellaneous disorders (15.13%). The latter category included pulmonary edema, omphalitis and transport stress. In a separate study, the reproductive organs of 194 female ducks and 26 male ducks were examined systematically and gross and histopathological lesions encountered were studied. The diseases encountered in females were hypoplasia of left ovary and oviduct (20%), impaction of oviduct (5.45%), haemorrhagic cyst in the ovary (7.27%), salpingoperitonitis (10.9%), oophoritis (49.09%), cystic right oviduct (1.82%), mycotic salpingitis (1.82%) and tuberculous salpingitis (3.63%). In males atrophic testis (66.3%) and seminoma (33.3%) were the diseases recorded. Experimentally, pure aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A were administered to six ducks each, at the rate of 25 µg per duck daily for a period of three months. Clinically all the experimental ducks showed unthriftiness. But it was more pronounced in aflatoxin group. In both aflatoxin and ochratoxin group, the birds showed reduced weight gain and decreased feed intake. There was reduction in the weight of the testis in both aflatoxin and ochratoxin groups. Histologically, in the aflatoxin group, marked disruption in the organisation of germinal epithelium, absence of sperm bundles and edema of the interstitial tissue were the lesions observed. In the ochratoxin group, the basement membrane was found to be unaffected. Both aflatoxin and ochratoxin were found to cause degenerative changes in the testicular tissue. However, aflatoxin was found to cause more pronounced changes than ochratoxin. From the studies made, it was concluded that both aflatoxin and ochratoxin can induce degenerative changes in the testis and it was surmised that this would lead to subfertility and infertility. The need for feeding a diet free of mycotoxins to ensure profitable duck farming was stressed.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunopathological response of kids in pneumonia
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Anilkumar, T V; KAU; Rajan, A
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Immunopathological response of pigs In aflatoxicosis
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Gopalakrishnan Nair, M; KAU; Maryamma, K I
    The immune response of pigs fed aflatoxin at two different dose levels. 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg body weight was studied. The reduction in weight gain observed in the aflatoxin fed pigs was associated with decreased feed consumption and total serum protein concentration. There was increase in ESR and decease in PCV, haemoglobin and total erythrocyte count in the toxin fed groups. The neutrophilic and lymphocytic count did not show any significant variation except when the animals contracted mange infection. Following infection there was slight neutrophilia. The cell-mediated immune response was assessed employing ANAE, PHA and DNCB as markers. A decrease in the immune response was documented in the aflatoxin fed pigs. The humoral immune response was found to be suppressed as evidenced by a decrease in the concentration of total serum protein and gammaglobulin in the toxin fed groups. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils and macrophages was assessed using Nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test. The data revealed a decreased phagocytic activity. Haemorrhages were seen in almost all the visceral organs.The liver of aflatoxin fed animals was enlarged and icteric. The gall bladder was distended and oedematous. Fetty change centrilobular necrosis, haemorrhage, bilary hyperplasia, fibrous tissue proliferation, reticular collapse and focal lymphocytic infilteration were the characteristic histological features. Haemorrhage and haemosiderosis evident in the spleen. Tubular degeneration and focal haemorrhages were seen in the kidney. The thymus and the lymphnodes revealed depletion of lymphoid cells and focal areas of haemorrhage. Some of the lymphnodes revealed reactive proliferative response. Regular screening of feed for aflatoxin was advocated as a routine farm operation to prevent the deleterious effect of aflatoxin on the health and productivity of pigs.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Incidence and pathological features of hypothyroidism in cattle
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1986) Mammen J Abraham; KAU; Valsala, K V
    A survey study conducted indicated that hypothyroidism was one of the major etiological factors responsible for non – infectious reproductive disorders in cattle. The reason for repeat breeding cases in certain instances could be traced to hypofunction of the thyroid gland. Besides, this, hypothyroidism was experimentally induced in six male calves using thiourea as the goitrogen at a single dosage schedule of 150 mg/kg body weight with a view to delineate the sequence of clinicopathological changes in the sub – clinical hypothyroid state. The haemogram, plasma protein level, serum cholesterol level and serum protein bound iodine level of these animals were estimated at fortnightly intervals. Clinically, the experimental animals manifested progressive weakness, dullness, reduction in feed intake, irregular shedding of hair, subcutaneous edema and above all a marked stunting in growth. Gelatinization of subcutaneous and other depot fat and cardiac dilatation were the chief lesions encountered at autopsy. The calves became progressively anaemic and registered high serum cholesterol and plasma protein levels but significantly low PBI level as compared with control claves. There was significant increase in the relative weights of the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands but reduction in the relative weight of the testis. Histologically the thyroid follicular epithelial cells exhibited hyperplastic changes and varying degrees of degeneration along with significant depletion of colloid. Microscopically pituitary gland revealed vacuolation and hyperplasia of the basophil cells in focal areas. Adrenal glands showed slight proliferation of cells of zona faciculata and depletion of fat. Microscopic picture of the testis showed slight obliteration of the seminiferous tubules with no evidence of mitotic activity in the tubular cells. A few degenerated and desquamated cells were seen along with giant cells. The varying degrees of degenerative changes observed in the testis accounted for the reproductive disorders in hypothyroidism.