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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
    Evaluation of growth in Penaeus Monodon Fabricius by incorporation of selected nonhormonal growth promoters in the diet
    (Department of Aquaculture, College of Fisheries,Panangad, 1997) Vinodh, M P; KAU; Susheela, Jose
    The effect of three growth promoters viz. Chitin, chitosan and glucosamine each at three levels (0.25, 0.5 and 1g per 100g diet) were evaluated in P.monodon early juvenile for a period of 70 days. The three growth promoters at three level were tested with 3 replicates for each treatment. The growth promoters were incorporated into a soyflour clam meal based practical diet containing 40% protein and fed to the shrimps adlibitum. The results showed that the overall growth was not affected by dietary inclusion of chitin though the growth rate at 0.25g chitin per 100g diet was comparatively better than that of the control diet. Chitin does not seem to have any effect on specific growth rate of the juveniles although incorporation at 0.25g/100g diet improved the food conversion of the animal significantly over the control. Percentage survival values were also not significant at any level of incorporation. It does not seem to improve protein efficiency ratio and productive protein value too. Incorporation of chitosan at 0.25 and 0.5g/100g diet significantly improved the weight gain, specific growth rate, food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and productive protein value. However inclusion of chitosan at 1g/100g diet did not have any effect on growth though it significantly improved food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and productive protein value. None of these treatments had any effect on survival of the animal. Incorporation of glucosamine into the diet at 0.25g/100g diet was found to be the most efficient amongst the different treatments as evidenced by various growth parameters. It was significantly different from all other treatments in terms of growth, productive protein value and protein efficiency ratio. However it was not significantly different from glucosamine incorporation at 0.5g/100g diet in terms of specific growth rate and food conversion ratio. Enhancement of glucosamine level to 1g/100g diet was found to give poor result compared to the control. The survival rate of shrimps were not significantly different among the treatments. Hence in the present study, glucosamine was found to be superior to chitin and chitosan as a growth promoter and the optimum level was identified as 0.25g/100g diet for P.monodon juveniles