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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 × End date: 2001 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Assessment of mineral status during pregnancy in crossbred cattle
    (Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2000) Shibu, K Jacob; KAU; Philomina, P T
    Twenty, healthy crossbred heifers stationed at Kerala Agricultural University - Cattle Breeding Farm, Thumburrnuzhi, were utilized for the study. The parameters estimated in the experimental animals comprise of serum profile of certain macro and microelements as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, .potassium, iron, copper, zinc and haematological parameters like red blood cells count, haemoglobin content, volume of packed red cells and erythrocyte indices before conception and at different stages of pregnancy viz., from third month to ninth month at monthly intervals and first month of lactation. The serum calcium level showed significant variations during the period of study, which decreased from the control level till fifth month of pregnancy and then increased from sixth month of gestation and reached the highest level by ninth month of gestation thereafter, decreased during first month of lactation (table 1). The increased serum calcium level from sixth month of pregnancy and early lactation could be due to an increased demand of this element for the formation of fetal skeleton and organogenesis as well as for drainage into the milk Serum inorganic phosphorus concentration was increased from third month of pregnancy and the highest level was attained by fifth month of pregnancy. Later the level of serum inorganic phosphorus gradually declined from sixth month to ninth month of pregnancy. These fluctuations in serum phosphorus during pregnancy might be due to the mobilisation of calcium and phosphorus from the dam's skeleton or due to an increased G.I tract absorption during the period. Besides the utilisation of calcium for fetal growth, calcium and phosphorus play a vital role in the action of hormones and enzymes at subcellular levels in an integrated fashion in reproduction of young heifers. During first month of early lactation still lower content of serum inorganic phosphorus was observed which could be due to its drainage into milk. There was an increase in the serum magnesium concentration from the preconception level during different stages of pregnancy and the same was significantly higher from sixth to ninth month of pregnancy which later dropped a little during first month of lactation as observed in the case of serum calcium. The increased magnesium level during the period of gestation could be due to the increased gut absorption in order to meet increased metabolic demands of this mineral, as many of the enzymes of glycolysis and citric acid cycle require magnesium as a cofactor. The serum concentration of sodium' showed an increasing tendency whereas that of potassium showed a decreasing tendency from third to ninth month of pregnancy. However the values of sodium encountered during third to sixth month and that of potassium from third to eighth month of pregnancy were lower than pre conception values which might be due to an increased permeation of these electrolytes into the uterus and fmally drainage into the fetoplacentary unit. The serum sodium and potassium level reached highest values during ninth month of pregnancy which further decreased during first month of lactation due to an increased transfer of these electrolytes into milk .. An increasing trend was observed for serum levels of iron and copper from third to fifth month of pregnancy. The increased level of serum iron during the first half of pregnancy might be due to an increased absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. It was observed that both these minerals reach their peak serum level by fifth month of pregnancy and towards late pregnancy the iron level decreased which might be either due to its incorporation into the fetus or an increase in plasma volume so that haemoglobin content of blood also got apparently decreased. Serum copper concentration which decreased during the period of sixth to eighth month of pregnancy might be due to an increased blood volume and further increase in serum copper level during the ninth month of pregnancy might be due to the increase in estrogen level during that period as estrogen induce denovo synthesis of ceruloplasmin and thereby increased serum copper value during this period. During the first month of postpartum, serum iron level was found decreased while copper concentration increased. As far as serum zinc levels was concerned it was noticed that throughout the pregnancy its level increased when compared to control value. This could be due to an increased concentration of several enzymes involved in steroidgenesis and carbonic anhydrase, a zinc containing enzyme encountered during pregnancy. Eventhough serum zinc content exhibited a decreasing trend from third to eighth month of gestation, eventually it got increased during ninth month which might be due to higher levels of circulating prostaglandins during this period as zinc is required for their transport. A further increase in serum zinc level was noticed during first month of lactation.