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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
    Effect of tranquillizer on weight gain in broilers
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1978) Santa George, E; KAU; Jacob Cheeran, V
    A feeding trial of 30 days duration was carried out in 30 days – old commercial broiler chicken to study the effects of two tranquillizers such as meprobamate and nitrazepam incorporated at varying levels in the rations for chicken, on weight gains. There were eight dietary treatments each consisted of 21 birds. The group that had received basal diet without the addition of tranquillizers formed as control while four groups each received basal diet incorporated with meprobamate (Equanil) at levels of 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6% and 1.2% of the diet and the remaining three groups received diets added with nitrazepam (Hypnotex) at levels of 0.005%, 0.01% and 0.015% respectively. The gain in body weight, feed consumption and haematology of the chicken were recorded and economics of weight gain in the respective treatments worked out. The results of the study indicated that incorporation of tranquillizers in the diet did not promote growth in chicken at a faster rate than the basal diet. Addition of meprobamate in the diet caused mortality in chicken, the maximum had been in groups that received the highest dose levels. There appeared to have a tendency for longer clotting time for the blood in chicken that had received meprobamate and that their liver showed varying degrees of degenerative changes. None of the tranquillizers at any of the levels studied had any effect on the general behaviour of the birds. Based on the results it was concluded that addition of tranquillisers had not produced any beneficial effect in broiler chicken either in promoting a faster growth rate or a savings in feed consumption.