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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 Physiology × Author: Karthiayini, K × End date: 2015 × Start date: 2000 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of season and antistress agents on physiological and biochemical parameters of Broiler Chicken Under Stress
    (Department of veterinery physiology, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 2007) Karthiayini, K; KAU; Philomina, P T
    The study was conducted with the objective of ascertaining the efficacy of certain antistress agents as probiotic with multiple strains of bacteria and yeast (Protexin), antibiotic as virginiamycin (Stafac-20) and vitamin C in ameliorating the overcrowding stress induced during summer and rainy seasons in respect of physiological, biochemical, hormonal, immunological and production parameters of broiler chicken. The experiment was carried out on one-month-old Vencob broiler chicks in two separate phases; phase-I during summer and phase II during rainy season. In each seasonal phase, the birds were divided into five groups with 12 birds in each group. Each group was replicated twice. The birds in different groups were G-I – unstressed control birds (provided with a floor space of 696 cm2/bird), G-II – stressed control (floor space reduced by 50% to have a space allowance of 348 cm2/bird), G-III – overcrowded birds supplemented with Protexin at the rate of 0.025 per cent in the diet, G-IV- overcrowded birds supplemented with virginiamycin at the rate of 0.002 per cent in the diet, and G-V- overcrowded birds supplemented with vitamin C at the rate of 0.03 per cent in the diet. Blood samples were collected from six birds in each replicate using appropriate anticoagulants. Haematological parameters were estimated using the whole blood. Plasma samples were separated and used for estimating biochemical and hormonal parameters. Quantification of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and electrophoretic separation of plasma proteins were carried out. Heterophil:Lymphocyte (H:L) ratio and lymphoblastogenic response were also recorded. The data were analysed statistically using appropriate tools. Values of total erythrocyte count (TEC), concentration of haemoglobin (Hb), volume of packed red blood cells (VPRC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total leukocyte count (TLC) monocyte percentage, concentration of plasma total proteins, plasma alanine amino transferase (ALT) activity, plasma concentration of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), organ weight of different organs as heart, spleen, liver, gizzard, fat percentage and dressing percentage were not significantly affected by applied stress of overcrowding. The percentage of heterophils, lymphocytes, basophils, H/L ratio, plasma concentration of globulin, total lipids, total cholesterol, and glucose, activities of plasma enzymes such as aspartate amino transferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were influenced by overcrowding stress in both summer as well as rainy seasons. Although the concentration of stress hormones (cortisol and corticosterone) increased significantly (Pī‚Ŗ0.05) by overcrowding stress in six week old broilers, continued application of the same stress caused waning off the increase to merely insignificant level. The applied stress and summer heat deteriorated the immune status of the broilers whereas the supplemented feed additives normalised many of the stress-induced changes in the haematological, biochemical and production parameters. Out of the antistress feed supplements used vitamin C was found more efficacious and economical than Protexin and virginiamycin in repealing the stress induced alterations in broilers at six and eight weeks of age both in summer and rainy seasons. Virginiamycin supplementation adversely affected the haematological parameters. Seasons significantly changed the concentration of Hb, VPRC, heterophil count, lymphocyte count, H/L ratio, plasma LDH activity, plasma concentration of T3, T4, and cortisol as well as body weight of broiler chicken. The values of heterophil count, H/L ratio, plasma concentration of LDH, and cortisol were higher in summer, whereas, lower values were observed for Hb concentration, VPRC, lymphocyte count, plasma concentration of T3 and T4 and body weight. The birds in summer gave a better economical gain than those in rainy season. Haematological parameters such as TEC, TLC, MCH, percentages of monocytes, basophils, biochemical parameters such as plasma concentration of glucose, total proteins, albumin, globulin, A:G ratio, plasma concentration of total lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, AST, and ALT, corticosterone and production parameters such as body weight gain, organ weight, body fat percentage and dressing percentage were not significantly affected by seasons. Both overcrowding and summer heat stress reduced the feed intake of broilers. The plasma concentration of albumin, total lipids, cholesterol, glucose, AST, ALT, and LDH were increased significantly with the increase in age (4-8 weeks period) in both seasons. Significant reductions in the plasma concentration of corticosterone and T3 were noticed with the advancement of age. The values of VPRC, TLC, plasma concentration of globulin, A:G ratio, plasma concentration of triglycerides and cortisol, were not significantly affected by the age of the birds (4 to 8 weeks). From the results of the study it could be inferred that stress of overcrowding adversely affected many of the physiological, biochemical and production parameters of six and eight week old broiler chicken. Antistress feed supplements such as Protexin, virginiamycin and vitamin C were effective to rectify most of the stress-associated changes, but not all. The vitamin C was found better and more economical than other feed additives as Protexin and virginiamycin. Dietary supplementations of antistress agents were more effective in overcrowded, heat stressed birds of summer season than their counter parts of rainy season.