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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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2003 - 20102
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Author: KAU × Author: Smitha, S × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2003 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Efficay of probiotic and ascorbic acid in alleviating summer stress in growing broiler rabbits
    (Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Smitha, S; KAU; Kannan, A
    The research work was conducted to study the efficacy of probiotic (Lactobacillus casei) and ascorbic acid in alleviating summer stress in growing broiler rabbits. The study was done in the summer season from March to May. The growth performance of rabbits in summer, their physiological response to stress and the cost effectiveness of supplementing probiotic, Lactobacillus casei and ascorbic acid were studied. Twenty four weaned New Zealand White rabbits were randomly selected from Rabbit unit at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara were utilized for the study. They were divided into four groups of six animals each. The treatments were as follows: Treatment I (T1) - Ascorbic acid (Merck) at the rate of 200 mg per kg feed was given along with the basal diet, Treatment - 2 (T2) - Probiotic, Lactobacillus casei (Unique Biotech) containing 106 colony forming units per gram of feed was given along with the basal diet, Treatment - 3(T3) - Probiotic and Ascorbic acid at the same rate as in T2 and T3 were given along with the basal diet and Treatment - 4 (T4) - Rabbits fed with basal diet alone. The various climatic parameters studied were maximum and minimum temperature and relative humidity (morning and afternoon) in macro climate and maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity (morning and afternoon), dry bulb temperature (morning and afternoon) and relative humidity (morning and afternoon) in micro climate. The production parameters recorded were weekly body weight, daily feed intake, average daily weight gain and feed efficiency. The physiological parameters studied were weekly respiration rate, weekly rectal temperature and monthly cortisol (faecal and serum) values (twice a month for three months). Disease incidence and mortality during the period was recorded. Cost effectiveness of supplementing probiotic and ascorbic acid was determined. The mean monthly temperature humidity index values suggested that animals were under moderate heat stress in the first (28.45±0.16) and the second month (28.50±0.22), while no stress prevailed in the third month (26.83±0.21). By one way Analysis of variance it was found that supplementation of probiotic, Lactobacillus casei and ascorbic acid had a significant effect in alleviating summer stress in rabbits. The animals in the T1 group showed significantly (P<0.05) higher overall mean daily body weight gain, overall mean feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) lower overall mean respiration rate and faecal cortisol level compared to T4 animals. The rabbits in T2 treatment showed significantly higher (P<0.05) final body weight, overall mean daily body weight gain, overall mean feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) lower overall mean respiration rate compared to T4. The rabbits in the T3 group showed significantly higher (P<0.05) final body weight, overall mean daily body weight gain, overall mean feed efficiency and significantly (P<0.05) lower overall mean faecal cortisol level compared to T4. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the treatments in mean feed intake, rectal temperature and serum cortisol. No disease incidence or mortality was observed during the experimental period. Supplementation of probiotic and ascorbic acid was found to be efficient in reducing the production economics. Hence it was concluded that supplementation of probiotic, Lactobacillus casei at the rate of 106 cfu per g of feed and ascorbic acid at the rate of 200 mg per kg feed in combination was found to be most effective and economic in alleviating summer stress in growing broiler rabbits.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pathology of gastro-intestinal discorders in piglets
    (Centre of Excellence in Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Smitha, S; KAU; Divakaran Nair, N
    The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and pathological disorders of the gastro-intestinal system of piglets. The results of the present investigation and evaluation of the data from the records revealed a high incidence of gastro-intestinal disorders to the level of eighty eight per cent. A detailed systematic examination of fifty piglet carcasses brought for autopsy during the period of investigation was conducted and the gross and histopathological lesions were studied in detail and were classified based on age and sex. Higher incidence of gastro-intestinal lesions was recorded in piglets aged 10-20 days and their possible causes are described. Vascular and degenerative changes were the predominant lesions, followed by inflammation. Among the inflammatory changes, catarrhal gastro-enteritis was the most prevalent lesions observed. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were isolated from such cases and are suspected as the possible pathogenesis has been described. Viral etiology was also suspected in certain cases as the infiltrating cells appeared predominantly Iymphocytes. Besides these ulcers were recorded in the stomach and the intestinal tract. Salmonella cholerae suis was isolated from the intestinal ulcers. Bacterial isolations were obtained in the intestine, liver, heart blood and sow's milk. A total of 17 bacterial isolations were obtained from 11 animals. Their role in the causation of gastro-intestinal disorders have been explained. Coincident with various gastro-intestinal disorders, liver of 30 cases and mesenteric lymph nodes of 28 cases revealed variety of vascular, degenerative and inflammatory lesions. In one case 'with suppurative hepatitis, Salmonella cholerae suis was isolated. The variable degrees of lymphoid depletion, degeneration and necrosis of lymphoid follicles of mesenteric lymph nodes and the Iymphocytes of Peyer's patches indicated immunosuppression. The vascular and degenerative lesions, without any evidence for infections etiology observed in the gastro-intestinal tract and liver suggested the involvement of some toxic factors. Further the higher incidence of the disorders in the young ones, the isolation mostly of the resident flora of the intestinal tract and the lymph node changes indicated the necessity for an in depth study on the role of factors like immune status of the animals and eo-pathogens in the causation of gastro- intestinal disorders in piglings,