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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 Science × End date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Utilisation of dried cuttle fish (Sepia officialis) waste silage for growth in crossbred (large white yorkshire x desi) pigs
    (College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Sakthivel, P C; KAU; Mercy, A D
    An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of dried cuttle fish waste silage, on growth, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients, carcass characteristics and economics of gain in growing and finishing pigs. Fifteen male and fifteen female weaned crossbred (Large White Yorkshire x Desi, 50 per cent) piglets with an average body weight of 13.50 kg were divided into three homogeneous groups of ten piglets in each, with regard to age, sex and body weight. The three groups of piglets were maintained for 152 days on three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets T1, T2 and T3 in which crude protein from unsalted dried fish was replaced by the protein of dried cuttle fish waste silage at 0, 50 and 100 per cent level. The piglets on the three groups were fed their respective grower rations which contained 18 per cent crude protein and 3200 kcal digestible energy per kg until they attained an average body weight of 50 kg and thereafter changed to finisher rations containing 14 per cent crude protein and 3100 kcal digestible energy per kg until the animals were slaughtered. A digestibility trial was conducted towards the end of the experiment using chromic oxide added at 0.05 per cent to each diet as external indicator. At the end of the experiment six animals from each treatment were slaughtered randomly to study the carcass characteristics. The animals maintained under the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 had almost similar growth rate (P>0.05) with a cumulative average daily gain of 370.31, 353.15 and 364.90 g, respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in cumulative feed conversion efficiency between groups, the values being 4.16, 4.28 and 4.26 for the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter and crude protein were higher for the diets T3 and T1 than that of T2, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of ether extract, crude fibre and nitrogen free extract were similar for the three diets T1, T2 and T3. Dressing percentage and carcass characteristics such as carcass length, back fat thickness, loin eye area, meat percentage and meat bone ratio were not significantly influenced by the inclusion of dried cuttle fish waste silage. The cost of feed per kg live weight gain of pigs in the three dietary treatments T1, T2 and T3 were Rs.35.15, 34.40 and 32.25, respectively. The dietary treatments T2 and T3 were economically efficient at 2 and 8 per cent over T1. The above results indicate that the dried cuttle fish waste silage can be used economically as a substitute for unsalted dried fish in the rations of growing and finishing pigs on protein basis, without any adverse effect on growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, digestibility of nutrients and carcass characteristics.