Loading...
Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Use of condensed coconut water in yoghurt
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1996) Malarkannan, S P; KAU; Geevarghese, P I
    An attempt was made to incorporate condensed coconut water in partial replacement of MSNF at 25 and 50 per cent level in yoghurt and to study the properties of the product which were compared with normal yoghurt. An exhaustive review of literature on the various physico – chemical properties of yoghurt and other fermented milk products has been presented. The procedure for the analysis of coconut water and condensed coconut water for its chemical composition, mineral profile and method of condensation has been described. The quantity of ingredients for yoghurt preparation was derived by linear programming model. The treatments were divided into TC (control), T2 (25 per cent replacement of MSNF using condensed coconut water without gelatin), T3 (T2 + gelatin at 0.5 per cent level), T4 (50 per cent replacement of MSNF using condensed coconut water without gelatin) and T5 (T4 + 0.5 per cent gelatin). A pre – trial was conducted to find out the ideal combination of starter culture and gelatin to be added to give good quality yoghurt. A combination of four per cent starter culture with 0.5 per cent gelatin produced good quality yohurt and this combination was used in the subsequent trials. A pilot heat stability test was conducted in treatment mixes to find out the amount of trisodium citrate required to provide sufficient heat stability. Yoghurt mixes prepared were analysed for titratable acidity, pH and total solids. Statistical analysis revealed no significant difference between control and treatments for the above. No significant difference was observed in pH and fat between the control and treatments. A significant difference (P < 0.01) in titratable acidity, protein and NPN percentage was observed between control and treatments. The curd tension and viscosity showed a decreasing trend with increasing level of replacement but this properties improved to certain extent by addition of gelatin. The setting time and NPN content showed an increasing trend as replacement level increased and this may be due to high mineral and NPN content in coconut water. There was no significant difference in tyrosine value between the control and treatments T2 and T3. No significant difference was observed in L. bulgaricus count and coliform count between control and treatments, whereas but S. thermophiles and yeast and mould count showed significant difference between control and treatments which may be due to a stimulatory factor in coconut water for yeast and mould and inhibitory factor for S. thermophiles resulting in slow growth. Organoleptic quality revealed that 25 per cent replacement of MSNF with or without addition of gelatin produced comparable scores as that of control yoghurt. A savings of 13.95 per cent and 8.14 per cent in cost can be achieved by 25 per cent replacement of MSNF with or without addition of gelatin respectively. The results of the experiment revealed that 25 per cent replacement of MSNF with condensed coconut water can be successfully tried in preparing yoghurt without affecting the physic – chemical and organoleptic properties together with considerable reduction in cost.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Microbiological quality and shelf-life of raw cow`s milk preserved by lactoperoxidase system
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1998) Selvin Joe, J; KAU; Mukundan, M
    A detailed study was carried out to determine the micro-biological quality and shelf- life of raw cow's milk preserved by lactoperoxidase (LP) system. Literature related to the LP-system have been reviewed . •• A total of 6 trails were conducted to obtain reliable data for statistical analysis. In each trail, three litres of raw cow milk was divided into three equal parts of one litre each. One part was kept as a control (C) and LP-system was activated in the other two parts one part with 20: 10ppm (Tl) and other with 20:20ppm (T2) (SCN-:H202), with in two hours of production of milk. The milk samples were stored at 30 +1 DC . . Before the activation of LP- system the micro-biological quality of raw milk, samples were analysed. After the activation of LP-system the micro-biological quality of control and experimental group milk samples were analysed once in every 3 hours, till the samples showed positive on clot-on-boiling (COB) test. Standard plate count, Coliform count, Titratahle acidity, pH, Methylene blue reduction time, one hour Resazurin reduction test, Clot-on boiling test and Alizarin - Alcohol test were the parameters studied. The mean initial SPC of milk samples was 5.280 log cfu per ml. The control milk samples remained 'Good' quality only for 3 hours storage, while the LP-treated milk samples of both Tl and T2 remained 'Good' quality even after 9 hours of storage. 11 \ 1 \ 383 The standard plate count and coliform count (CC) of control milk samples showed a steady increase from the initial period itself, whereas in the LP-treated milk samples of T1 and T2 the SPC and CC showed a reduction than the initial count after 3 hours of storage and both SPC and CC slightly exceeded the initial count even after 6 hour of storage . .. Based on the titratable acidity, the control milk had the acceptable quality (0.18 per cent lactic acid) of only upto 6 hours while the LP-treated milk remained with in the acceptable limit for 12 h. According to the Alizarin - Alcohol test, the control milk remained stable only for 3 hours and the LP- treated milk remained stable for 9 hours of storage at 30+ 1 DC. The milk samples of control group had the shelf-life of 12 hours where as the LP-treated milk samples of T1 and T2 had the shelf-life of 18 hours based on the clot-on-boiling test. The micro-biological quality and shelf-life of milk samples, both T1 and T2 did not show significant difference during the entire period of storage.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Withania somnifera and Catharanthus roseus in rats
    (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1997) Arivuchelvan, A; KAU; Joy, A D
    The present study was undertaken with the objective of determining the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of withania somnifera and Catharanthus roseus. Alcoholic extract of both the plants were used for the study and the effect produced by the above plants were compared with that of the known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug namely, diclofenac sodium which served as the positive control drug. To assess the anti-inflammatory effect two methods namely, cotton pellet and carrageenin induced paw oedema were adopted. In cotton pellet method five groups of eight rats each were used per plant. First group was kept as a control, which received five per cent gum acacia only. IInd, IIIrd and IVth group received 200, 400, 600 mg/kg alcoholic extract of C. roseus Vth group served as the positive control which received diclofenac sodium 3 mg/kg dose level. All the drugs were administered orally. C. roseus produced significant anti granuloma activity when compared to control group. Higher activity was produced by 600 mg/kg body weight extract (35.88 per cent anti-inflammatory activity). For W. somnifera also same experimental design was adopted with dose rates of 750, 1000, 1500 mg/kg body weight. W. somnifera produced dose dependent antigranuloma activity. Higher dose (1500 mg/kg body weight) produced more antigranuloma activity (53.92 per cent) which was comparable to the antigranuloma activity of diclofenac sodium. Haematological parameters before and after treatment showed no significant changes for both the plants. In carrageenin induced paw oedema method al so five groups of eight rats each were used per plant. All the three doses of extract and reference drug were given thirty minutes prior to the carrageenin injection and the paw thickness was recorded three hour after injection. c. roseus produced significant antioedema activity in this model. Higher dose (600 mg/kg) produced equipotent effect compared to diclofenac sodium 3 mg/kg. W. somnifera also produced dose dependent anti oedema activity. Extract at the dose rate of 750, 1000, 1500 mg/kg produced 19.4, 35.23, 44.62 per cent antioedema activity respectively. But the reference drug diclofenac sodium produced higher antioedema activity. For evaluating antinociceptive effect of C. roseus and W. somnifera, seven groups of eight animal each were used. All the dose rates of both the plant extracts were compared with diclofenac sodium for a period of two hours showed no significant analgesic effect.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of lactose hydrolysed condensed whey and bifidobacterium bifidum in yogurt
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Beena, A K; KAU; Prasad, V
    An experiment was conducted to assess the possibilities of utilizing whey solids in the form of condensed whey or lactose hydrolysed condensed whey as a substitute for NDM. Their effect was also studied in conjunction with B. bifidum as a dietary adjunct. A detailed review of literature has been presented on the issues of lactose intolerance, hypercholesteraemia, beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria in alleviating these conditions and also on acid tolerance and bile tolerance of cultures used in the present study. Methodology for the condensation of cheese whey, estimation of lactose in whey, B-galactosidase specific activity in the products, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesetrol and triglycerides in serum, assessment of acid tolerance and bile tolerance of lactic cultures used here have been detailed. The experiment comprised of preparation of yogurt and bifidus yogurt using three methods of fortification viz. skim milk powder, condensed whey and lactose hydrolysed condensed whey. The products prepared were then analysed for B-galacosidase specific activity. Hypocholesteraemic and growth promoting effects of these products were assessed in a biological study using rats. Hypocholesteraemic and growth promoting effects of whole milk was also assessed in the biological study. Acid tolerance and bile tolerance of lactic cultures used in this study were also determined, in vitro. From the above study, following conclusions were made. 1. B-galactosidase specific activity was noticed in substantial amount, in yogurt under different treatments. Bifidus yogurt showed a reduction in B-galactosidase specific activity, however, the activity was found to be enhanced when fortification was done with lactose hydrolysed condensed whey indicating that bifidus yogurt fortified with lactose hydrolysed condensed whey is superior. 2. No significant hypocholesteraemic effect was noticed in rats due to consumption of milk. All the rats fed with yogurt and bifidus yogurt except that given yogurt A1 showed a substantial reduction in serum LDL-cholesterol level and cardiac risk factor. However, bifidus yogurt supplemented with whey proteins showed maximum hypocholesteraemic effect and lowest cardiac risk factor showing the superiority of bifidus yogurt with whey proteins. 3. All rats given yogurt and bifidus yogurt showed a better daily weight gain when compared to the group fed whole milk along with feed and cholesterol. 4. Evaluation of acid tolerance of lactic cultures showed that, among the three cultures tested, B. bifidum exhibited maximum acid tolerance followed by S. salivarius ssp. Thermophilius. L. delbrueckii spp. Bulgaricus was found to be acid sensitive. 5. Bile tolerance study of pure and active cultures revealed that none of the tested cultures were completely inhibited by bile indicating theses cultures were bile tolerant to some extent.