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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: Ravi, S × End date: 2005 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Calcium and phosphorus requirements of indigenous layer ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)
    (Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2002) Ravi, S; KAU; Peethambaran, P A
    A 3 x 3 factorial experiment was carried out at the Department of Poultry Science, Kerala Agricultural University during the period from February to July 2002 to establish the optimum requirements of calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (AP) in the diets for indigenous layer ducks under cage system of rearing. The Kuttanad varieties of indigenous ducklings of Kerala were maintained on deep litter system of rearing until 18 weeks of age at the University poultry farm, Mannuthy. From this flock, Ninety (90) female ducks were housed in 45 California type cages at the rate of two ducks per cage and they were weighed individually at 20 weeks of age. The dimension of each cage was 60 x 45 x 40 cm and the floor area of 1350 cm2 per duck was provided in the cage. The experimental diets were fed from 21 to 40 weeks of age and the observations were recorded in five periods of 28 days each. Nine experimental diets containing three levels of Ca viz., 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 per cent with three levels of AP viz., 0.40, 0.50 and 0.60 per cent were formulated and were fed to nine treatments consisting of five replicates of two ducks per cage in each treatment in a 3x3 factorial design. The mean body weight of ducks at 20 weeks of age was uniform III all groups ranging from 1400±9.11 to 1465±53.24 g with an overall mean of 1431±9.96 g. The Ca and AP levels did not influence significantly the 40th week body weight, which ranged from 1473±18.10 to 1579±58.28 g with an overall mean of 1544± 13.7 6g. The age at first egg in the flock with 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 per cent Ca levels were 154, 158 and 148 days respectively and with AP levels 0.4,0.5 and 0.6 per cent the same were 161, 154 and 148 days respectively. The period wise mean duck housed number (DHN) from 25-40 weeks of age (18.1eggs) was significantly higher with ducks fed 4.0 per cent Ca (P<0.05). The interaction effect was significant (P<0.05) for the dietary combination of 4.0 per cent Ca and 0.6 per cent AP with 20.2 eggs. The cumulative egg number (EN) of 75.7 eggs from 21 to 40 weeks of age was also higher with the Ca level 4.0 per cent and the 71.9 per cent production with diet T9 was superior by interaction effect (P<0.05). The duck housed per cent (DHP) production from 25 to 40 weeks of age averaged 64.6±1.92 per cent with 4.0 per cent Ca level. The Ca and AP levels in the diet did not influence the mean daily feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg mass and shell thickness. The overall mean daily feed consumption was 137.2±1.49 g per duck. The FCR per dozen eggs was 2.8±0.078 and that per kg egg was 3.9±0.099 for the period from 25 to 40 weeks of age. The mean egg weight (EW) and per cent shell were highly significant and the EW of 60.1±0.575 g averaged with 3.0 per cent Ca and 0.5 per cent AP level as well were high (Pinteraction effect with the above combination was also significant (PThe 9. 7±0. 081 per cent shell recorded with 0.5 per cent AP was significantly lower in comparison with other AP levels (P<0.05). At 40 weeks of age, the overall mean serum Ca was 15.42±0.35 mg/dl and serum P was 3.18±0.081 mg/dl. The mean serum inorganic P value of 2.92±0.164. mg/dl recorded with dietary Ca level 4.0 per cent was significantly lower than that of 3.5 per cent Ca level (P<0.05). The tibia ash (62.34±0.512 per cent) was significantly higher with 0.6 per cent dietary AP level (P<0.05) and the tibia ash Ca with 4.0 per cent dietary Ca level was significantly higher and the interaction effect with 0.6 per cent AP level was also significant. With this AP level, the tibia P was reduced significantly, but the interaction showed that the tibia P was high with diet T9. The liveability was excellent in ducks reared in cages (100 per cent) and there was no mortality during the period from 21 to 40 weeks of age. In the present study, the production traits used for evaluating the Ca and AP requirements of caged layer ducks were EN, EW, egg mass, feed consumption and FCR. The study revealed that 4.0 per cent Ca in the diet was superior over other Ca levels in the diet. The dietary Ca and AP levels did not influence the mean daily feed consumption and feed conversion ratios significantly. On the other hand, dietary AP levels influenced the mean EW, per cent shell, tibia ash weight and tibia ash Ca and P. Though the mean EW of 60.1±O.566 g recorded with 0.5 per cent AP was significantly higher, the significant interaction on egg number with the 0.6 per cent AP with 4.0 per cent Ca was found superior. Therefore it will be logical to set the requirements of AP at 0.6 per cent level. Thus, the overall results of the present study revealed that the 4.0 per cent Ca and 0.6 per cent AP levels with 18 per cent Crude Protein and 2650 Kcal ME/kg was optimum for egg production in indigenous layer ducks under cage system of rearing.
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Agave Americana- a new host of Phytophthora palmivora (Butler) butler
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1987) Estellitta, S; Beena, S; Ravi, S; Wilson, K I; KAU
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    New bacterial wilt of Coleus Vettiveroides Jacob
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1992) Estelitta, S; Beena, S; Koshy Abraham; Ravi, S; Varadarajan Nair, P; KAU
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Necrotic streak - A symptom of kokkan disease of banana
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1992) Ravi, S; Vilasini, T N; Beena, S; Abi Cheeran; KAU