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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 Helminth Parasites Of Indian Elephants(Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences,Mannuthy, 1988) Khomdram Somorendro, KAU; Chandrasekharan, KThe present study was conducted over a period of one year, during which dung samples from 203 Captive Indian elephants from different parts (urban, village and forests) of Kerala of different age and sex were examined. Out of this, 117 elephants were found to be infected with different hel - minth parasites either as pure or mixed infection. The overall prevalence of helminthiasis was 57.6 per cent. Helminthiasis was more during rainy season (70 per cent) than dry or summer season (52.44 per cent). Eleven species of adult nematodes and three species of adult amphistomes and eggs of Bivetellobilharzia nairi and Anoplocephala manubriata were recorded during this study. The nematode parasites were Murshidia murshidia, Murshidia falcifera, Quilonia renniei, Amira pileata, Choniangium epistomum, Equinubria sipunculiformis, Decrusia additictia, Grammocephalus hybridatus, Grammocephalus varedatus, Parabronema indicum, Parabronema smithi and the amphistomes were Pseudodiscus collinsi, Pseudodiscus hawkesii and Gastrodiscus secundus. The more common species were Murshidia murshidia and Murshidia falcifera. Anthelmintic efficacy of albendazole (Albomar) was assessed on the basis of the reduction of eggs in the dung samples. A single oral dosage of 2.5 and 3 mg per kg body weight was found 100 per cent effective against strongyle infection in naturally infected captive Indian elephants.ThesisItem Open Access Status of broiler production In Kerala with special reference to Trichur(Department of Poultry Science, College of Veterinary, Mannuthy, 1988) Aboobacker, M; KAU; Regunathan Nair, GA survey was undertaken to assess the present status of broiler farming in Thrissur, a major broiler producing district in Kerala. Thirtytwo farms were selected for the survey based on holding strength and frequency of intake. Following are some of the salient points that emerged from the survey. All the farmers were literate and had taken up broiler farming for generating additional income to sustain the family. Majority of the farmers were raising 300 birds per crop with fortnightly intake and were adopting scientific management practices. Organized marketing channel was absent and the birds were disposed off at the farm site itself in retail or wholesale. Dressing of birds in large scale was not being practiced. Results indicated that the mortality rate, body weight at marketing and feed conversion ratio were 6.69 per cent, 1.48 kg and 2.49 respectively. The major portion of production cost was attributed to feed (56.26%) followed by chick (28.56%) and labour (4.31%). Seasons of the year had no appreciable effect on broiler productivity except slight higher mortality due to heat stress during hot seasons. Study also revealed that increasing the stock intake reduces the cost of production with increase in net return. The productivity both in terms of market body weight and livability were adversely affected in farms where hired labour was used resulting in much lower net income. Low profit farms (less than Rs.2.00 per bird sold) showed higher mortality (13.56%) and low body weight at disposal. The survey revealed that better productivity could be achieved by improving efficiency of production particularly reduction in feed cost, increasing livability and adoption of a tangible marketing system so as to obtain remunerative price even during lean seasons.ThesisItem Open Access Experimently induced torsion of spleen and its treatment in canines(Department of Surgery, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 1988) Mohindar Sing, Bhadwal; KAU; Jalaluddin, AmEighteen apparently healthy dogs of either sex, aged one to five years and weighing 10-15 kg were used for the study. All the dogs were dewormed and examined for the presence of blood parasites if any. They were housed separately in cages under identical conditions of feeding and management and kept under observation for 10 days before the experiments. The animals were divided into two groups as detailed below: Group A: Consisting of six animals numbered serially, viz. A(1), A(2), A(3), A(4), A(5) and A(6) and Group B: Consisting of 12 animals divided into two subgroups of six animals each and numbered serially, viz. B1(1), B1(2), B1(3), B1(4), B1(5) and B1(6) and B2(1), B2(2), B2(3), B2(4), B2(5) and B2(6). In the animals of group A, laparotomy was performed and torsion of the spleen was brought about. The observations made in this group served (i) to assess the clinic-pathological changes and (ii) to arrive at appropriate time for the commencement of treatment in group B. In the animals of group B, effectiveness of treatment, following experimently induced torsion of the spleen was studied. In the subgroup B1, detorsion of the spleen was done while in subgroup B2, splenectomy was performed. The animals became dull and recumbent by six hours after experimentally induced torsion of the spleen and remained recumbent till death. The mucous membrane was pale and the capillary refilling time was prolonged. A significant increase in the heart rate, band cell count and serum potassium and a significant decrease in blood pressure, central venous pressure, lymphocyte count and eosinophil count was observed by the ninth hour after torsion. It could be seen that the period from sixth to the ninth hour after torsion of the spleen would be critical and hence the appropriate time to commence the treatment was fixed at six hours after torsion. In group B, where effectiveness of the treatment was studied, only one animal survived after detorsion in subgroup B1 whereas all the animals survived after splenectomy in sub group B2. In subgroup B1, after detorsion most of the animals were recumbent, the extremities were cold and they did not take food and water, whereas in subgroup B2, after splenectomy all the animals were able to stand and they took food and water. The heart rate showed a decreasing trend in both the subgroups. Blood pressure showed a decrease at sixth hour followed by an increase in both the subgroups. Central venous pressure showed an increase at sixth hour followed by a decrease upto 18 hous and then an increase at 24 hours in subgroup B1, whereas in subgroup B2, it increased gradually. Packed cell volume and haemoglobin content decreased in both the subgroups. The serum potassium level remained high in both the subgroups.ThesisItem Open Access Chromosome profile of Indian elephants ( Elephas maximus indicus)(Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1988) Sakthi Kumar, A; KAU; Mukundan, GA karyological study in Indian elephants using peripheral venous blood collected from 7 tuskers, 7 cow elephants and one makhna belonging to some temples and private owners of Trichur District was undertaken with objectives of a) to evolve a technique for chromosome studies of elephants. b) to find out the chromosome number in Indian elephants, and c) to suggest sex chromosome mechanism in sex determination. Standardization of technique Comparison of efficacy of phytohaemagglutinin – M (Difco) and Poke – weed mitogen (GIBCO), in two different culture media namely TC 199 and RPMI – 1640, as mitogens showed that phyto – haemagglutinin – M yielded a mitotic index of 0.33 and 0.66 per cent in medium TC 199 and RPMI – 1640 respectively; poke – weed mitogen yielded a mitotic index of 5.33 and 5.66 per cent respectively in TC 199 and RPMI – 1640. Statistical analysis revealed that the efficacy of the two different media used was not significantly different, whereas the efficacy of two mitogens differed significantly at five per cent level. Poke – weed mitogen was found to be better than phytohaemagglutinin – M as far as indusing mitoses in elephant lymphocyte cultures over a 72 hour culture period was concerned. Colchicine treatment using 0.1 ml colchicine solution (0.0001%) for a period of one hour yielded satisfactory chromosome preparations. Karyotype The karyotype of the tusker, cow elephant and makhna revealed a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 56, comprising of 54 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes. The autosomes were classified into 6 submetacentric and 21 acrocentric chromosomes. The X – chromosome was a submetacentric in all the three groups of elephants whereas the Y – chromosome was a small acrocentric in the tusker as well as the makhna. Analysis of relative length of chromosomes showed that the largest chromosome pair measured a relative length of 6.973 per cent and the smallest chromosome was the Y – chromosome measuring a relative length of 1.710 per cent. Position of centromere on the basis of centromeric index suggested that the centromere was farthest from the centre of the chromosome in the second autosome pair and nearest to the centre in the X – chromosome among the submetacentric chromosomes. Neither autosomes nor sex chromosomes possessed satellites on karyological examination. The elephants studied exhibited XX/XY sex chromosome mechanism. The cow elephant possessed XX sex chromosome complement while both tusker and makhna possessed XY sex chromosome complement. A comparison between the karyotypes of tusker and makhna did not show any variation in (a) basic number, (b) relative length (C) position of centromere, (d) absence of satellites on the chromosomes and (e) the sex chromosome complement. It may be concluded that tusklessness in makhna is not associated with either euploidy or aneuploidy.ThesisItem Open Access Characterization and immunology of inflenza virus type a isolated from duck in Kerala(Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1988) Mini, M; KAU; Sulochana, SDucks are generally regarded as resistant to influenza virus infection. During the early halves of 1985 and 1987 influenza A viruses were isolated from cases of respiratory disease causing 15 to 20 percent mortality in two to six week-old ducklings at Government Duck Farm, Niranam. Four strains of the virus (A/duck/India /1/85 (H9N2)-CDN, A/duck/India /2/87 (H3N?) –DT3; A/duck/India /7/87 (H3N2)-T19 and A/duck/India /14/87 (H9N?-lgl isolated from these out breaks were studied in detail with particular reference to their characteristics, Pathogenicity and immunogenicity. The strains were propagated in nine day embryonated chicken eggs by allantoic route of inoculation. All the four strains multiplied well killing the embryos in two to four days time. Though characteristic lesions were not present, the embryos were slightly congested. The chorioallantoic membranes showed moderate congestion and oedema but no pock lesions. Infectivity titers were 108.5 EID 50/0.2ml; 108.25 EID 50/0.2ml 105.75 EID 50/0.2ml and 108.5 EID 50/0.2ml respectively for CDN, DT3, T19 and lgl. The corresponding HA titres were 1:64 , 1:128, 1:64 and 1:256 The strains also multiplied well in duck embryos but no specific lesions were seen either in the embryo or on the chorioallantoic membranes. The infectivity titers were low compared to the titers obtained in chick embryos. All the strains were inactivated at 560C in 30 minutes. They lost their infectivity at PH 3.2 while HA property was not considerably reduced except for lgl. At PH 7.2 both infectivity and HA property were not affected. But infectivity was slightly affected and HA property was markedly reduced at PH 9.0. The viruses were chloroform sensitive and agglutinated red cells from cattle, sheep, goat, guinea pigs, horse, rabbit, rat mouse, chicken and man (0, A and B Groups). Chicken embryo fibroblastic infected with strain CDN produced cytopathic effects characterized by rounding of cells affecting the whole monolayer in 96 hours. The remaining three strains did not produce any CPE. In all the four cases virus infection was evidenced as the cell culture fluid gave haemagglutination. The infectivity titers of these fluids were 106.5 EID 50/0.2ml and 105.5 EID 50/0.2 ml 104.0 EID 50/0.2 ml and 105.5 EID 50/0.2 ml respectively for CDN, DT3, T19 and lgl. Two common antigens possibly the type specific MP and NP antigens were detected in the CAM extracts of embryos infected with these strains by agar gel precipitation and immunoelectrophoresis. Mean death time for these strains calculated according to the method adopted for NDV were 78 hours, 76.8 hours, 72 hours and 76 hours respectively for CDN, DT3, T19 and lgl, while the ICPI in day-old chicks were 0.325, 0.66, 0.00 and 0.16 and IVPI 0.00 in all cases. Pathogenicity and immunogenicity studies were carried out in day-old, one week-old and two week-old ducklings with strain CDN and in the week-old ducklings with strain lgl. Strain CDN produced hundred percent mortality in day old ducklings that received the virus by oral , occulonasal and subcutaneous routes. They died with no marked clinical signs except droopiness, discharges from the eyes. Slight diarhoea and ruffled feathers in some of them. The pathogenicity indices were 1.19, 1.15 and 1.51 respectively for group A,B and C. The ducklings that were kept to study contact infection revealed cloacal excretion of the virus till 12th day, through tracheal excretion stopped by 10th day. None of the birds in all the four groups that survived seven day of infection did reveal any specific seven day of infection did reveal any specific HI antibodies. In one week-old ducklings no clinical symptoms were observed. Virus could be isolated from cloacal and throat swabs before death and from tissues of dead birds. The pathogenicity indices were 0.36, 0.00 and 0.20 respectively for group A, B and C. In contact ducklings picked up infection as indicated from virus isolation and antibody titration. Both infected and incontact birds showed HI antibodies from 7th day onwards. By 14th day the titres reached peak level ranging between of 1:16 to 1:64 followed by a decline and remained steady through out the observation period. The two week-old ducklings did not show any clinical symptoms or death. But they revealed tracheal and cloacal shedding of the virus. The HI antibody titres never increased beyond 1:16. None of the incontent birds either showed clinical symptoms or death. Positive virus isolation could be made till the 7th day. Antibody response was also very poor and HI antibody titers never increased beyond 1:4. One week-old ducklings infected with strain lgl remained apparently healthy throughout the period of observation. However, virus isolations were made from cloacal and tracheal samples from 3rd to 7th day. In birds that received the virus by oral route, HI antibody titres were 1:4, 1:8 and 1:4 respectively on 7th, 14th and 21st day and nil by 28th day. In order two groups the birds did not reveal HI antibodies till 28th day. None of the incontact birds in all three groups showed clinical symptoms, death or any other indication of infection by the virus. In addition the sera from these birds were also negative for HI antibodies.ThesisItem Open Access Evaluation of liver function in ruminal acidosis in goats(Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1988) Usha Narayana Pillai; KAU; Alikutty, K MThe results and conclusions drawn from a study on ruminal acidosis carried out to determine the incidence of disease in the field and clinical signs, changes in rumen liquor, blood and urine during the course of induced disease are presented, Based on the results effect of ruminal acidosis on the functional status of the liver was assessed to strengthen the diagnostic – therapeutic approaches hither – to adopted. The available data on the incidence of disease collected from field Veterinary hospitals were utilized for analysis of digestive disorders in goats. Twenty apparently healthy cross – bred goats of either sex weighing 15.0 to 25.0 kg and of 1 – 3 years in age maintained under identical conditions of feeding and management at the University Livestock Farm (AICRP on Goats for Milk Production), Mannuthy were selected at random and utilized for the present study. They were divided into two groups of eight (Group – 1) and twelve (Group – 11) and fistulated by suitable surgical techniques. Animals of Group – 1 were used as healthy control for this study. Ruminal acidosis was induced in Group – 11 animals by intraruminal administration of crushed raw rice at @ 80 g/kg body weight. Course of the disease was followed and clinical observations were made daily. Rumen liquor, blood and urine samples were collected at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of the experiment and analysed. Similarly samples were collected at 24 hourly intervals from animals of group – 1 and analysed to obtain the normal values. Digestive disorders constituted 57.69 per cent of all diseases in goats. The incidence of primary digestive disorders was 29.37 per cent with acid indigestion forming 18.07 per cent. Seasonal variations in the incidence of ruminal acidosis were significant , the highest incidence was recorded during summer followed by rainy and winter seasons. General depression, dullness, mild tympany, absence of reticulo – ruminal contractions, firm and doughy rumen on palpation, foul smelling diarrhoea, purulent nasal discharge, increased rates of pulse and respiration and signs of dehydration were the important clinical signs noticed in the study. Rumen liquor samples collected from Group – 11 animals at 24 hours after induction of the disease were creamy, faintly sour to distinctly sour odour and watery in consistency. These physical characters of rumen liquor persisted during the rest of the period of observations. Complete absence of protozoal motility and SAT could be observed by 24 hours after induction of the disease. Significant decrease in the pH and NH3 – N with associated increase in lactic acid level were observed in all the samples of rumen liquor while decrease in the TVFA level was significant from the 48th hour of experiment. Significant increase in the blood glucose, lactic acid, GOT, LDH, GDH and T ½ of BSP with associated decrease in A:G ratio, cholesterol and fractional clearance of BSP from plasma were observed in animals in which ruminal acidosis was induced. However, total protein, albumin, GPT and NH3 – N levels in blood did not show any significant variations. Changes in the A:G ratio, GOT, LDH, GDH levels in the blood and fractional clearance of dye from the plasma indicated hepatic insufficiency. Urine samples did not reveal presence of any pathological constituents but a linear relationship was maintained between the pH of urine and rumen liquor. Postmortem findings included peeling of rumen mucosae, congestion all along the gastro – intestinal tract, cardiac dilatation, petechial haemorrhage on myocardium, degeneration and necrosis of liver, distension of gallbladder with greenish – yellow tinged fluid and degeneration of kidney.ThesisItem Open Access Draught potentialities of indigenous and cross-bred cattle(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1988) Sreekumar, D; KAU; Thomas, C KThe draught performance of Bos indicus x Bos Taurus crossbred bullocks was compared with that of bullocks belonging to a South Indian draught breed (Kangayam type) under the agro - climatic conditions of Kerala, with a hot – humid tropical climate. Two pairs of adult cross – bred bullocks (Jersey x Red Sindhi) and two pairs of adult indigenous bullocks (Kangayam type) were used for ploughing on dry land for 4 hours and 5 hours continuously on alternate days. Physiological responses like respiratory rate, pulse rate and rectal temperature and haematological parameters like haemoglobin per cent, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, packed cell volume, lactic acid and plasma bicarbonate were estimated before work, immediately after work and after 1 hour of rest after work. The dry matter intake and water intake on days of work and on days on which no work was done were measured and compared. In order to evaluate the relative efficiency of work, the average speed of walking and the total area ploughed in 1 hour were compared. The cross – bred bullocks had significantly higher physiological responses even before the start of work. As a result of work the physiological responses increased significantly and during rest, the values declined but did not reach the pre – exercise values after one hour rest. The haemoglobin per cent of blood, packed cell volume and plasma bicarbonate content decreased significantly and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood lactic acid content showed a significant increase as a result of work. One hour of rest was not sufficient to bring these parameters to pre – exercise values. The indigenous bullocks consumed more dry matter per metabolic body size than the cross – breds. However, the total dry matter intake by the indigenous bullocks was less due to smaller body size. It was found that work had no effect on dry matter intake as the dry matter intake of indigenous and cross – bred bullocks on days of work and on days on which no work was done was almost similar. The cross – breds consumed more water per day matter per metabolic body size on days of work and no work. The total area ploughed by indigenous bullocks in 1 hour was significantly more than the cross – bred bullocks. Also, the average speed of walking of indigenous bullocks was greater than that of the cross – breds. The enhanced physiological reactions in the cross – breds even before the work pointed to the fact that they were under some degree of thermal stress due to the hot – humid climate. Exercise (work) increased the stress and widened the gap between the cross – breds and indigenous bullocks. The lower total feed intake and greater speed and more area ploughed per unit time make the indigenous Kangayam type bullocks a more economical animal. Their higher feed intake and lower water intake per unit metabolic size indicates that they can better sustain energy supply to the tissues for work and manage under lower water availability. Coupled with these advantages, their greater heat adaptability make them a superior draught animal.
