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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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ThesisItem Open Access Immunogenicity of an indigenous isolate of newcastle disease virus and Its usefulness as a vaccine strain(Department of microbiology, College of veterinary and animal sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Murugan, M R; KAU; Suloohana, SThe newly isolated mesogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus (NT) from an ailing mynah was studied in detail with particular reference to its biological characteristics, pathogenicity and immunogenicity. The results of various studies were compared with that of Komorov strain, a known mesogenic strain. The titer attained in developing chick embryos, mean death time of inoculated chick embryos at terminal dilutions, neuropathogenicity index in day old chicks and intravenous pathogenicity index were 109.5 /0.2 ml, 87 hours 0.63 and 0.00 respectively for the MT strain. The above values in order were 1010.5/0.2 ML, 76.5 hours, 1.16 and 0.000 for the Komorov strain. The infectivity of MT strain was labile at 560C for 10 minutes and the haemagglutinin was completely lost within five minutes. On the other hand the infectivity and haemagglutinin of K strain were comparatively resistant. Strain MT was pathogenic to day old chicks in which 26.6% mortality was noticed. In recovered chicks sufficient HI antibodies were seen and all of them withstood challenge. Although comparable results were obtained for Komarov strain, it was less pathogenic to day old chicks. Though 23.3% of chicks manifested clinical symptom only 3.3% died and the remaining birds recovered. In three weeks old chicks MT and K strain were found to be nonpathogenic either by S/C or oculonasal route. The inoculated chicks were immune when challenged six weeks later. Even in six weeks old chicks having no base immunity no post-inoculation reactions could be detected. All the chicks showed a rise in antibody titer reaching the peak level by the end of the third week and were resistant to challenge after six weeks. In chicks aged six weeks having a base immunity with strain were also free from any post infection reaction either by I/M or S/C route or inoculation. Chicks in both the groups produced HI antibodies and was always higher in those received infection by I/M route. The peak titers were obtained at the end of the third week and then declined. Though the titers were low by the end of the 6th week all the chicks were resistant to ND when exposed to a virulent virus. 2.9% of the chicks that received K strain by I/M route showed post inoculation reaction and died of ND. The remaining chicks and those in the S/C group behaved the same way as those received NT strain. Though the antibody response of chicken to MT and K were not statistically significant in all the three experiments, MWU test revealed that MT has a significantly higher immunogenic effect than K as the former always had a higher means than the latter. The ability to infect in contact chicks was also investigated. Strain MT was less efficient in this property giving only 25% to 28% transmission. On the other hand K strain revealed significantly higher transmissibility as it could spread to 62.5 to 75% of the inoculated in contact chicks. The mesogenic strain MT is quite safe in chicks of three weeks of age and above. It is also a good immunogen producing HI antibodies which protected the chicks from challenge even after six weeks. However the strain can be recommended as a vaccine strain only after further field trials and its effects on egg production are worked out.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of Lactation Performance of Zebu x Taurus Cattle in Kerala(Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1983) Stephan, Mathew; KAU; Mukundhan, GAn investigation was undertaken to evaluate the lactation performance of the crossbred cattle (Zebu x Taurus) and to compare the performance of Brown Swiss and Jersey crosses under field conditions so that a breeding policy could be recommended. First lactation milk yield in 305 days, age at first calving and first lactation length were the characters studied. For this, data on the Brown Swiss crossbred maintained by the farmers at Mavelikkara and Kattappana and on Jersey crossbreds at Kanjirappally and Chalakudy under the milk recording – cum – progeny testing scheme of the Kerala Livestock Development and Milk Marketing Board were utilized. The observations spread over a period of four years from 1978 to 1981. The uncorrected average first lactation yields were 1508.8 + 14.3 kg in Brown Swiss half – breds, 1562.6 + 28.7 kg in unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, 1380.3 + 47.0 kg in Jersey half – breds and 1558.0 + 31.5 kg in unclassified Jersey crosses. The least squares means of first lactation yields in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half – breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 1482.0 + 19.7 kg, 1544.7 + 32.4 kg, 1359.2 + 57.4 kg and 1559.8 + 37.3 kg respectively. The Duncan’s multiple range test showed that the Jersey half – breds had significantly lower production compared to all other genetic groups. The production of unclassified Jersey crosses had been significantly higher than the Brown Swiss half – breds as well as Jersey half – breds. Least squares analysis on pooled data and Brown Swiss half – breds showed the significant influence of age at first calving, year of calving and sex of the calf on first lactation milk yield. But, season of calving did not significantly influence the milk yield. The uncorrected average age at first calving in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half _ breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 46.0 + 0.4 months, 38.4 + 0.6 months, 41.7 + 1.4 months and 39.5 + 1.2 months respectively. The least squares means of age at first calving in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half – breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 46.0 + 0.5, 38.0 + 0.8, 41.1 + 2.1 and 38.9 + 1.5 months respectively. Brown Swiss half – breds had significantly higher age at first calving compared to the other three groups which were homogenous. The effect of year on age at first calving was not significant in Brown Swiss half – breds while pooled data analysis showed a significant effect of year on age at first calving. The uncorrected average lactation lengths in Brown Swiss half – breds, unclassified Brown Swiss crosses, Jersey half – breds and unclassified Jersey crosses were 300.5 + 0.5 days, 299.6 + 1.0 days, 295.6 + 2.4 days and 295.3 + 1.7 days, respectively. This shows that all the crossbreds had fairly good lactation length. Lactation milk yield and age at first calving are economically important to the farmer and in this context these two characters are to be considered together. The results obtained do not indicate the superiority of either Brown Swiss or Jersey crossbreds, over the other. The introduction of both Brown Swiss and Jersey improved the milk production of the cattle of Kerala. While aiming at a further improvement, emphasis should be given to the merit of the sires rather than the specificity of the exotic breed or the percentage of exotic inheritance.ThesisItem Open Access Survey on the status of duck farming in Kerala state(Department of Poultry Science,College of Veterinary Science, Mannuthy, 1983) Ravindran, T K; KAU; Venugopalan, C KThe results of a survey to assess the status of duck farming in Kerala is reported in this thesis. The economic background of duck farmers in the state was not generally found enough to support their families. Educationally, majority of them had only primary education. Unlike chicken, flocks of ducks consisting of 350-400 are taken from place to place in search of post-harvested paddy fields for browsing . Three members are necessary to mange one flock. Duck rearing is mainly concentrated in Kuttanad area of Alleppy and Kottayam district were the conditions are congenial for brooding and rearing of ducklings. Specialization in the production of day-old duckling is a feature of Kuttanad duck industry. Large number of broody hens are the only natural incubators for the duck eggs and the percentage of hatchability obtained by farmers is 80-85. Artificial incubation and day-old sexing are not at all practiced. Cooked rice mixed with fresh coconut gratings formed the opening meal for the ducklings. Mortality during the rearing period is only five per cent. Ducklings are allowed to swim from seventh day onwards and they are taken to the open paddy fields for foraging after one month. The average egg production reported by the farmers for the desi ducks is 130-140 eggs per duck per year and flock of ducks is used for laying upto the age of three years. Mortality among adult ducks is very rare. The marketing of duck eggs is now fully under the control of private commission agents, who act as financiers to the duck farmers as well.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic effects influencing egger traits from diallel mating system(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Rashbehari, Singh K; KAU; Unni, A K K (Guide)A 3 x 3 diallel cross was made using IWP, IWN and F strains of White Leghorn at the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Poultry for Eggs, Thrissur centre. Age at first egg in days, body weight at 20 and 40 weeks of age in grammes, egg number up to 280 days of age and egg weight (g) at 38 weeks of age were recorded for all the nine genetic groups. Strain F was found to be superior in performance among the purebreads in terms of the traits considered in the study. The over all merit of F strain, as sire line, was found to be good, yielding birds in cross combinations with low age at maturity, moderate body weight and egg weight satisfactory egg yield. IWP strain appeared to perform well as a dam line and crosses produced using IWP strain as a dam line were heavy in body weight and egg weight matured early and also produced quality good number of eggs. F strain when used as a female line might be more economical as they produced lighter hybrids capable of producing good number of eggs and maturing early. However, the impact on egg weight had to be critically assessed. Beneficial heterosis of significance was not generated up on crossing. However a positive heterosis was obtained when F and IWP strains were crossed but it did not reach a level of significance. IWN x IWP was also found to be a cross with good potential and as such both F x IWP and IWN x IWP crosses may exposed for extensive field testing while efforts to improve the production potential in these strains may be continued by appropriate intra-population selection method.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of frequency of ejaculation on semen characteristics and libido in cross-bred bucks(Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Metilda, Joseph; KAU; Prabhakaran, Nair KThe objective of the study was to find out the optimum number of collections per day which can be taken from adult cross – bred bucks without adversely affecting their libido and semen quality. Ejaculation frequencies of once, twice and thrice daily for a continuous period of three months were adopted for the study. Epididymal sperm reserves and Daily Sperm Production were estimated to assess the sperm reserves of bucks. While colour, density, mass activity, concentration and MBR time were found to be influenced by ejaculation frequencies, volume, pH, percentage of dead sperms, percentage of abnormal sperms and sperm vialbility were unaffected. Frequency of ejaculation was not found to affect the libido of bucks. Bucks within group were found to influence all seminal attributes except mass activity, percentage of dead sperms and MBR time. Similarly all the seminal attributes with the exception of proximal and distal protoplasmic droplets were influenced by months within groups. A positive correlation between sperm viability at 46.50C for 30 minutes and preservation at 6 to 80C for 96 hrs.was observed. While in group II bucks only density, mass activity, pH, concentration and MBR time showed significant difference between ejaculates, in group 111, all seminal attributes except percentage of dead sperms were observed to be significantly different between ejaculates. The Daily Sperm Production per buck (X 109), per gram of testis (X 106), Daily Sperm Output (X 109) and dpididymal Sprem reserves (X 109) were respectively 3.7949 + 0.2032, 22.1974 + 0.3775, 1.2680 and 25.72 + 1.95. The average transit time of spermatozoa through epididymis was found to be 6.78 days. Increasing the frequency of collection from once daily to twice or thrice daily resulted in a significant drop in spermatozoan concentration, thus affecting seminal attributes such as colour, density, mass activity and MBR time. The very fact that other important seminal attributes such as volume, pH, motility, percentage of abnormal sperms, percentage of dead sperms, percentage of proximal and distal protoplasmic droplets and spermatozoan viability were unaffected, clearly points out that there is no deterioration of semen quality with increasing collection frequency. Similarly there was no deterioration in the sex libido and fertility of bucks even with three collections daily. However, there dose not seem to be any definite advantage in increasing collection frequency from 2 to 3 times daily, as the total harvest of sperms from group 11 and group 111 were almost same. But increasing the frequency of collection from one to two times daily has definite advantage, as it yields more spermatozoa for artificial insemination and hence is recommended for adoption.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of different dietary levels on the postpartum reproductive performance of cross-bred cows(Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Alexander, M I; KAU; Prabhakaran, Nair KThe object of the present study was to asses the influence of higher dietary levels on the postpartum re productive performance of cross-bred cows. The meterials consisted of 30 crossbred cows in advanced stage of gestation. They were weighed on 270th day of gestation and on the day of calving and were randomly allotted to control, treatments 1st and 2nd . the control received ration based on Sen and Ray standard whereas, treatments 1 st and 2nd received 115 and 130 precent of control ration. The weight of the cows was recorded at 15 days interval from calving to oestrum.serum inorganic phosphorous, protein, glucose and haemoglobin percentage of 5 cows from each group was estimated. A decline of body weight wad observed in the first fortnight in all the three groups. This trend continued upto 30 days in the control whereas, in the treatment an increasing trend was observed from fifteenth day. Cows in all three groups showed postpartum oestrum, while there was in gain in body weight. The postpartum oestrous interval of control ,treatment 1st and treatment 2nd were 62.1+4.63, 56.60+5.53 and 53.22+3.75 days respectively and these values did not very significantly. However, postpartum oestrous interval of treatments 1st snd 2d was significantly less than that of the herd. Serum in organic phosphorous was significantly higher on the day of oestrum in control and treatment II. There was significant difference in serum protein values between groups at certain time intervals. It was also significantly more on the day of oestrum in both control and treatment I. Similarly blood glucose and haemoglobin were significantly higher on the day of oestrum in treatment I. Results of this study indicated that Sen and Ray ration is adequate to meet the requirement for both production and reproduction of cross- bred cows.ThesisItem Open Access Prostaglandin administration in improving the breeding efficiency of suboestrous cows(Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Rajagopalan Nair, R; KAU; Madhavan, EThe object of the study was to find the incidence of postpartum suboestrum in crossbred cattle and to evaluate the efficiency of PGF2 alpha (Estrumate) in the treatment of suboestrum. For this, the crossbred cows belonging to the University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy which were reported to be anoestrous even after 45 days postpartum were subjected to detailed clinic gynaecological examination and those having palpable corpus luteum were considered as suboestrous. Among these, 54 cows which had an active corpus luteum of 7 – 14 days of age were given 500 microgram of Estrumate and the result of the treatment was assessed. The observations made and inferences drawn are summarised below. The incidence of postpartum suboestrum in the herd was 45.68% and in the reportedly anoestrous animals 71.84% were suboestrous. In all, 98.15% cows exhibited cestrus at an average interval of 53.2075 + 1.038 hours, after the administration of the drug. Among these 92.45% ovulated at an average interval of 82.6122 + 2.0015 hours after the administration of Estrumate. The percentage of treated animals which conceived at first insemination was 43.4. The conception rate in the induced heat was significantly influenced by the intensity of heat. The number of inseminations required per conception did not vary significantly from that of the rest of the herd. The service period of the treated animals was significantly shorter (92.4583 + 3.5394) than that of the herd (135.11 + 6.9742) days. In short, it may be stated that PGF2 alpha analogue, Estrumate, was effective in the induction of ovulatory oestrum with satisfactory fertility in the suboestrous cows.ThesisItem Open Access Balanced designs for biological experiments in blocks of natural sizes(Department of Statistics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) Malika, V; KAU; Surendran, P UAs a preliminary result we have established Fisher’s inequality associated with a BIB design and generalized it to balanced binary designs with unequal replications and unequal block sizes to balanced n-ary equireplicate designs and also to BIB designs in which one treatment alone is allowed to repeat more than once in a block. Further it is shown that a balanced proper binary design is equireplicate. From existing BIB designs we have constructed balanced binary and ternary designs. A novel method of construction is as follows: Let there be a BIB design with parameters v, b, r, k, λ. From each block form k blocks each of size k+1 with block content as all treatments of the block with one distinct treatment repeated in a block. The resulting design will be a balanced ternary design with parameters v1=v, b1=kb, r1=r(k+1), λ1= λ(k+2). Kroneckor product is applied for the construction of balanced ternary designs by collapsing blocks of a BIB design. We have proved using Kroneckor product, that existence of a resolvable BIB design implies the existence of a proper balanced ternary design and this is an improvement over the results due to Dey (1970). Further it is shown that method of Kroneckor product used for the construction of balanced ternary designs can also be used for the construction of partially balanced ternary designs. Methods have been devised for the construction of balanced ternary designs making use of Finite geometrices and Galois field.ThesisItem Open Access Role of selected minerals in ruminal indigestion in cross-bred cattle(Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) George, Thomas; KAU; Alikutty, K Metc. The present investigations were taken up with the objectives to survey the incidence and seasonal dynamics of digestive disorders in cattle in Kerala, to study the associated changes in physical characters, Ph, protozoal motility and sedimatnation activity time of rumen liquor and the status of selected minerals in rumen liquor and blood in clinical cases of simple indigestion in crose – bred cattle and based on the findings in the above to modify and compare the line of therapy for the same. Date collected from selected veterinary hospitals in the field and under the Kerala Agricultural University showed that digestive disorders formed 33.10 per cent of the total of the incidence of diseases in cattle. Among the digestive disorders, cases of indigestion as a whole were 70.07 per cent and simple indigestion mostly associated with dietetic errors were 48.90 per cent. Influence of season on the incidence of these conditions was significant, being highest in summer. This could be attributed to irregularities in with non – availability of good quality fodder throughout the year and feeding cattle predominantly on dry and coarse locally available unconventional animal rations and inadequate supply of water during the season. Eight apparently healthy adult cross-bred cattle from the University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy, formed the healthy control animals (Group I). Twelve clinical cases of simple indigestion in adult cross – bred cattle divided at random into two groups of six each constituted the treatment groups (Group II and III). In Group II animals conventional therapy consisting of bitter stomachics orally and liver extract parenterally was tried. In animals of group III modified therapy comprising of bitter stomachics and ‘Anorexon’ (pfizer pvt. Ltd.) tablets orally and ‘Calborol’ (M & B pvt. Ltd.) intravenously was adopted. Course of the disease was studied and samples of rumen liquor and blood were collected for analysis on the first, fourth and seventh day of admission in the clinic. Important clinical signs of the disease were slight general depression and dullness, partial or complete loss of appetite, suspension of rumination, cessation or depressed rumen contractions, normal or pesty and scanty dung or presence of mild diarrhoes and drop in milk yield. The body temperature and rates of pulse and respiration were normal. Physical characters of the rumen liquor from cattle with simple indigestion were altered in that the colour was brownish yellow/brownish with faintly aromatic/faintly sour odour and thin/thick consistency compared to the greenish yellow colour, aromatic odour and thick consistency of rumen liquor from healthy control animals. Protozoal motility was suppressed (slow (+) to moderate (++) and SAT was prolonged to 26.16 + 1.70 minutes. Levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the rumen liquor and blood were significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in the cases studied. However, the levels of sodium and potassium did not show any significant variations before, during or after therapy. Mean calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels of rumen liquor in affected animals were 10.20 + 0.37 mg/dl, 7.76 + 0.23 mg/dl, 5.85 + 0.20 mg/dl, 132.33 + 1.17 mEg/L and 23.93 + 1.74 mEg/L respectively and the corresponding values in blood were 10.17 + 0.096 mg/dl, 5.17 + 0.093 mg/dl, 2.12 + 0.28 mg/dl, 150.35 + 1.30 mEg/L and 4.61 + 0.13 mEg/L. Physical characters, protozoal motility and SAT of the rumen liquor have almost returned to normal ranges following therapy. Improvements in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium level in rumen liquor and blood could presumably be associated with revivel of appetite and increased intake of feed following therapy. On the basis of better clinical response as judged by early return of appetite and milk yield, better improvements in the microbial activity of rumen liquor and mineral status of rumen liquor and blood and shorter recovery period, the modified therapy was found superior to the conventional therapy for the clinical management of simple indigestion in cross – bred cattle.