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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: KAU Ɨ Author: Rajathi, S Ɨ Start date: 2000 Ɨ Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. Ɨ
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Post-hatch development of preen gland in the duck (anas platyrhynchos)
    (Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Rajathi, S; KAU; Ashok, N
    The study on the post-hatch development of the preen gland in ducks was conducted using 44 ducks from the day of hatch to 150 days of age. The project was taken up to trace the structure and development of the glands and their relationship with the age and body weight. After recording gross relations and measurements, the material was fixed using various fixatives for studying the cellular details, arrangement of cells, connective tissue framework, micrometry and histochemistry. The preen gland was a paired organ with two gland and a common cylindrical papilla together formed a ā€˜Vā€™ shaped structure. Each gland was pear shaped and pale yellow in colour, in fresh state. They were located on the dorsal surface of the pygostyle. The two glands had separate ducts. The uropygial circlet was seen at the tip of the papilla. The glands were vascularized through a pair of branches from the caudal artery and innnervated through the medial caudal nerve. The weight of the preen glands increased progressively from the day of hatch to 150 days of age. This weight was positively correlated with the age and body weight. The proportion of the gland weight to body weight showed a decreasing trend. The right gland was slightly heavier, longer, wider and thicker than the left. The length, breadth and thickness were positively correlated with age and body weight. Simple, branched, tubular and holocrine type of glands was covered by highly vascular connective tissue capsule composed of collagen and reticular fibres. Elastic and smooth muscle cells were absent. The secretory tubules showed two zones, an outer zone or zone I, near the capsule and an inner zone or zone II, towards the primary cavity. The epithelium of the tubules consisted of basal, intermediate and transitional cell layers. The papilla had two ducts, which were lined by glandular epithelium initially and keratinized type of stratified stratified squamous epithelium at the tip. The glandular epithelium was surrounded by longitudinally arranged smooth muscle fibres and skin. Lamellar corpuscles and circlet feather follicles were noticed in the papilla. Capsule, trabeculae and the parenchyma were PAS positive. Acid mucopolysaccharides and glycogen were not detected in the gland. Lipids were evident uniformly in all the cell layers. The acid phosphatase activity was moderate in the basal and intermediate layers and strong in the transitional layer. The alkaline phosphatase activity was moderate in the basal and intermediate layers and weak in transitional layer of outer zone. It was moderate in the basal and intermediate layers and intense in the transitional layer of inner zone. Micrometrical findings on the capsule thickness, width of outer and inner zones and the primary cavity increased with the advancement of age.