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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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Subject: Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology × End date: 2003 × Start date: 2003 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT ) residues in cattle of floor area
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Deepa, A K; KAU; Usha, P T A
    A study was conducted to assess the impact of environmental pollution with DDT in cattle of Eloor industrial belt. Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL) is the major pesticide manufacturing factory of the region producing pesticides like ODT. Hence Eloor was selected as the study area. Environmental samples like sludge, water and fodder, biological samples like blood, urine, dung and milk were collected from the cattle of Eloor area. Whole blood and serum samples were collected for haematology and serum biochemistry respectively. The collected samples were analysed for ODT residues in the gas liquid chromatograph (GLC). The values obtained were compared statistically with the samples collected from University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy. Higher levels of DOT residues were obtained from the environmental and biological samples from Eloor than the corresponding samples from Mannuthy. The mean levels of total 'nOT in environmental samples of Eloor were 1.463 ± 0.555 ppm (fodder), 0.00255 ± 0.00002 ppm (water) and 35.157 ± 0.198 ppm (sludge). Biological samples from Eloor contained mean total ODT of 0.201 ± 0.123 ppm (serum), 0.023 ± 0.006 (urine), 0.910 ± 0.689 ppm (dung) and 0.058 ± 0.019 ppm (milk). Environmental samples from Mannuthy contained mean total DDT of 0.062 ± 0.021 ppm, 0.011 ± 0.006 ppm, 0.000085 ± 0.00007 ppm in fodder, sludge and water respectively. Serum, urine and dung from cattle of Mannuthy contained mean total DOT of 0.252 ± 0.145 ppm, 0.030 ± 0.003 ppm and 0.026 ± 0.017 ppm respectively. No DOT residues were detected in the milk samples from Mannuthy. The haematological values from Eloor cattle remained within the normal range except differential leucocyte count which exhibited marked neutropenia and eosinophilia. Values of total protein and albumin were normal in both groups of animals. Serum enzymes like alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly different fr~m Mannuthy sample but were within the normal range. It can be inferred that the DDT residues present in the field and biological samples were not high enough to cause toxicity in cattle. Variation in the haematological and biochemical parameters may be due to the presence of other environmental pollutants along with DDT in the discharged industrial effluents.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of the immunomodulatory effect of Emblica officinalis (amla) fruit pulp extracts in mice
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Suja Rani, S; KAU; Chandrasekharan, A M
    The immunomodulatory activity of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Emblica offictnalis was investigated on the basis of their effects on humoral, cell mediated and cellular immune mechanism in mice. The extracts were also qualitatively tested for the presence of various active principles in it. One hundred and forty four mice taken for the study were divided into two in which one group was tested with alcoholic extract while the other with aqueous extract. The extracts were fed at two dose levels ie, l00mg and 200 mg/kg bodyweight for 19 days. The controls in both groups received vehicle alone (five percent gum acacia). Various physiological, biochemical, haematological and immunological parameters like bodyweight, organ weight, total leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count, serum total protein, serum globulin, Haemagglutination (HA) titre, Delayed Type of Hypersensitivity (DTH), Macrophage Migration Index (MMI) and NitroBlue Tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction test were performed for evaluating the immunomodulatory potential of the extract. Both the extracts were found to increase the bodyweight and spleen weight significantly when fed at a higher dose rate of 200mglkg for 19 days. The total leukocyte count was increased to a maximum of 13.9O±2.05 and 12.77±<>.78 xI03/cu.mm respectively in aqueous and alcoholic extract treated groups on 1~ day of experiment, compared to control groups (7.l8±<>.72 and 7.IS± 0.72). Lymphocytic leukocytosis was seen after drug treatment. Serum total protein and globulin levels were also increased by the administration of extracts of Emblica. The drug administration increased the globulin concentration to 1.88±<>.42 and 1.97±0.21goA» on 19th day for alcoholic and aqueous extract treated groups respectively which was significantly higher than the control groups. The increase in HA antibody titre indicated the augmentation of humoral immune response to SRBC by Emblica officina/is. Administration of Amla extracts significantly increased cell mediated immune response as evidenced by increase in DTH response. Both the extracts were found to increase the macrophage migration area to 10.93±2.21 and 11.87±3.54 mm' in aqueous and alcoholic extract treated group respectively on 19th day of experiment compared to the controls (5.33±1.61 and 4.78±2.18). Thus a 1.5 to 2.5 fold increase in MMI could be noticed. The results of NBT test gave a maximum of 53.28 percent increase in respiratory burst activity of macrophage in aqueous extract treated group while the alcoholic extract treated group had a maximum of 46.04 percent increase from their controls. The phytochemical study of the Emblica extracts revealed the presence of active principles like tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, diterpenes, triterpenes and saponins in it. Thus the present study establishes the positive immunomodulatory activity of dried Emblica officinalis fruit pulp extracts, in a concentration dependent manner acting via humoral, cell mediated and cellular immune response.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative study of the antioxidant activity of Emblica officicnalis (amla) and curcumin in rats
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Sujith, S; KAU; Gopakumar, N
    The antioxidant activity of Emblica officinalis and Curcumin was investigated in rats fed with one percent cholesterol diet for a period of two months. They were divided into five groups of ten each. First group was fed a high fat diet; others one percent cholesterol diet. Group H did not receive any treatment. Animals of groups HI and IV were given Emblica officinalis at the rate of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Group V was given curcumin at the rate of 250mg/kg. The liver samples of experimental animals were analysed for lipid peroxide level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The blood samples were collected for serum cholesterol and routine haernatological parameters. Body weight gain in them was also looked into. There was no significant difference in the body weight gain in any of the groups. Higher level of lipid peroxide and serum cholesterol was obtained in the control groups (groups I and H) compared to the treatments. Peak mean lipid peroxide and serum cholesterol levels were noticed in group H after 60 days of experiment viz, 386.076± 16.05 nmol of malondialdehyde (MDA)/ g wet tissue and 1I2.088± 5.24 mg/dl respectively. Curcumin reduced lipid peroxidation better than Emblica where as Emblica officinalis at both dose rates reduced serum cholesterol level than curcumin. The activity of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase were lowest in group H. The peak superoxide dismutase level shown by group V was 22:090± 2.29 units/mg protein after 60 days of treatment. Emblica at 100 mg/kg and curcumin at 250 mg/kg were equally effective in inducing peak catalase levels. This showed that both Emblica and curcumin are having potent and comparable level of antioxidant property. The haematological parameters from samples of all the groups were within the normal range. The maximum total leukocyte count was noticed in group V after 30 days of treatment. After 60 days of treatment, there was no significant difference between the groups. Variability in differential leukocyte count was noticed only. up to half way of experiment. From the study it can be inferred that both Emblica officinalis and curcumin are potent antioxidants and that their antioxidant property is comparable.