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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
    Acrylic external skeletal fixator for the treatment of long bone fracture in dogs
    (Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science,Mannuthy, 2005) Julie, B; KAU; Syam Venugopal, K
    The efficacy of replacing stainless steel connecting bar in external skeletal fixator (ESF) with acrylic connecting bar was evaluated by using acrylic connecting bar in twelve clinical cases of complete fracture of long bones in dogs presented to the Surgery Units of Veterinary Hospitals of Mannuthy and Kokkalai, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, during the period of December 2003 to May 2005. All the animals were subjected to detailed clinical, radiological, haematological and serum biochemical evaluations before application of acrylic fixator and also postoperatively at two weeks interval upto sixth week or until the removal of the implant. Type IA or type II acrylic fixators were applied by closed or open approach under general anaesthesia depending on the type of fracture. Transfixation pins were drilled and the acrylic connecting bar was connected directly or following the application of a temporary stainless steel connecting bar, which was removed later. Fixator with acrylic connecting bar on one side and stainless steel connecting bar on the other side was used in three animals. Acrylic external fixator proved to be an economical, technically feasible, clinically successful and reliable alternative for stainless steel external fixators for the immobilization of fractures of radius and ulna and tibia and fibula in animals of less than 15 kg body weight. In heavier animals, usage of acrylic bar on one side of the type II fixator gave adequate stability in case of radial fractures but not for tibial fractures. Early return of sound functional limb usage following fixation with acrylic ESF was remarkable. All the animals, except three, could make slight ground contact with the fractured leg by the third post operative day and had apparently normal gait by the fourth week of observation with full weight bearing on the limb. Loosening of the proximal most pin occurred in Case Nos. 2, 3 and 4, by fourth week of observation, where type I acrylic fixator was used, but none of them affected the fracture healing significantly. Breakage of acrylic bar occurred in Case Nos. 7 and 9. In Case No. 7, the acrylic bar failed to tolerate the strong muscle pull on the fractured femoral fragments and in Case No. 9 severe mutilation by the animal resulted in breakage of the bar. Four animals exhibited mutilation on the implant, but only one on them showed severe mutilation. Mild pin tract drainage occurred in four animals and pin tract sepsis resulted in one animal. The heat generated during exothermic phase of acrylic hardening produced no apparent thermal necrosis of bone or soft tissue. Mild to moderate degrees of malalignment occurred following application of acrylic fixator in Case Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 11, which got nullified with progressive callus formation and resulted in restoration of normal straight line alignment of the bone. Marked angulation of the bone fragments occurred in Case Nos. 2 and 9. The fracture gap in all the cases was found to be progressively getting filled up with callus. Rate of callus formation varied with age of the animal, type of fracture and stability of the apparatus. In 50% of the cases, the fracture healed with endosteal callus only, while it healed with endosteal and periosteal callus in rest of the animals. Periosteal reaction of varying degree occurred in most of the cases but did not affect fracture healing or functional limb usage. Osteolysis was noticed around proximal pin tract in four animals, which could be due to loosening of pins. However, no significant alteration in fracture healing was produced. Acrylic column of one centimetre diameter was found sufficient for use as connecting bar of ESF for immobilization of fractures of radius and ulna and tibia and fibula in animals of less than 15 kg body weight.