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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
    Differentiation of buffalo flesh from beef by serological methods
    (Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Somasekharan, E; KAU; Abraham, J
    Immuno – double – diffusion in agar gel immune – electrophoresis on agarose were concurrently done to differentiate buffalo flesh from beef using unabsorbed antibuffalo serum and the test antigens prepared from 50 samples each of buffalo meat and beef in saline. The tests were repeated with unabsorbed anti beef serum. Both unabsorbed antibuffalo meat serum and anti beef serum reacted similarly with beef and buffalo meat antigens producing identical precipitation bands. Three precipitin arcs each were produced by whole antibuffalo meat and anti beef sera with beef and buffalo meat test antigens in immunoelectrophoresis. When the anti beef and antibuffalo meat sera were absorbed with freeze dried heterologous antigens and tested by agar gel diffusion and by immunoelectrophoresis, both the sera failed to produce any visible reaction with buffalo meat and beef antigens prepared from test samples. Mutton and chevon cross reacted with anti beef and antibuffalo meat sera while pork and dog meat showed no cross – reaction. Among the various antigens used for raising antisera in rabbits meat extract in Freund’s incomplete adjuvant was found to be most potent. A minimum of 11 days was required for the development of appreciable level of antibodies in rabbit serum with buffalo meat antigen in distilled water. The time lapse for the appearance of visible precipitation lines, in gel diffusion tests was five hours with antibuffalo sera against buffalo meat and beef antigens.