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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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Author: Divya, P D × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Comparative study and storage stability of hepatobiliary enzymes in ruminants and dogs of humid tropics
    (College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Divya, P D; KAU; Jayavardhanan, K K
    The present research was designed and conducted with the objectives of assessing the normal serum activity of hepatobiliary enzymes such as, ALT, AST, ALP and GGT for different animal species reared under the hot humid climatic conditions and to identify the ideal storage condition for each enzyme in these species by keeping sera samples at room temperature, 4 ºC and -20 ºC up to 14 days. The study was performed in adult healthy female crossbred cattle, Murrah buffalo and crossbred goats maintained at University Livestock Farms, College of Veterinary and Animal sciences, Mannuthy and dogs of mixed breeds maintained at nearby kennels during the period of April to October 2008. The research findings showed highest ALT activity in buffalo (50.00 ± 3.53 IU/L) followed by dog (33.56 ± 3.38 IU/L) and comparatively lower ALT activity in cattle and goat serum where the values were 19.46 ± 1.54 and 15.94 ± 0.84 IU/L, respectively. The reference range obtained for ALT activity in cattle, buffalo, goat and dog were of 16.11 to 22.81, 42.02 to 57.98, 14.17 to 17.72 and 25.15 to 41.36 IU/L, respectively. These results recommend the use of ALT assay particularly in dogs and buffalo for the diagnosis of hepatic damage. All the four species showed significant differences in the mean AST activities with highest activity for buffalo serum (113.53 to 146.49 IU/L) and lowest for dog (30.53 to 41.31 IU/L) with a reference range of 113.51 to 146.49 and 30.35 to 41.31 IU/L, respectively. For cattle and goat sera samples, the AST activity observed were 68.67 ± 2.29 IU/L (63.61 to 73.72) and 80.87 ± 3.71 IU/L (72.89 to 88.84), respectively. The analysis showed comparatively wider range for ALP activity in all the four species studied as referred to other hepatobiliary enzymes. The highest ALP activity was found in buffalo (323.60 ± 32.09 IU/L) ranging from 251.00 to 396.19 IU/L. The mean serum ALP activities for cattle and dog were 113.70 ± 7.59 IU/L (96.53 to 130.87) and 92.90 ± 7.53 IU/L (75.87 to 109.93) and were non significant. The ALP values obtained for goat was 175.92 ± 20.09 IU/L (131.71 to 220.13 IU/L). GGT levels obtained in the present study were within a narrow range in all the animals studied. The highest serum GGT activity was found in goats (32.57 ± 1.73 IU/L) and the lowest value in dogs (4.00 ± 0.15 IU/L) with a range of 31.41 to 39.13 and 3.66 to 4.34, respectively. The serum GGT activity of cattle and buffalo were found to be some what similar (13.15 ± 0.78 and 10.11 ± 1.28 IU/L, respectively). The corresponding reference ranges were 11.45 to 14.86 and 7.15 to 13.07, respectively. The results suggest GGT as the most suitable hepatobiliary enzyme than ALP to detect cholestasis in all the four species studied. The present study also reveals significant differences in the storage stability characteristics of the hepatobiliary enzyme among the four species. The investigation recommends 4 ºC as the ideal storage condition for ALT assay for cattle and dog serum samples, whereas, -20 ºC for goat serum and both conditions for buffalo serum. Both 4 ºC and -20 ºC was suitable for AST assay for cattle and dog serum, -20 ºC is recommended for goat whereas, buffalo serum showed maximum AST stability at 4 ºC. The present study suggests that ALP assay should be performed on the day of venipuncture itself in all four species studied as the enzyme showed wide variation upon storage. Both 4 ºC and -20 ºC was found to be as the ideal storage conditions for GGT assay in buffalo, goat and dog sera samples whereas, 4 ºC is recommended for cattle serum where the observed stability period was 11 days. Room temperature is not recommended for preserving sera samples for enzyme assay in all the four species except for GGT estimation in goat and dog serum where the enzyme was found to be stable up to the end of the study period. These differences in enzyme stability should be considered while preserving sera samples to get an accurate result.