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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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2001 - 20033
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End date: 2004 × Start date: 2000 × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Quality assessment of misty dahi prepared from filled milk
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Magna Thomas; KAU; Mukundan M
    A trial was conducted to assess the suitability of incorporating coconut fat as coconut cream in misty dahi at various levels and the properties of the product were studied. The physico-chemical properties such as titrable acidity, pH , total solids, setting time, protein, curd tension etc. and organoleptic properties of the treatments were studied. No significant difference was noticed in pH, total solids and fat between the control and treatment misty dahi. The values for titrable acidity, setting time, protein and curd tension registered a significant difference (Pcontrol and treatments and showed an increasing trend with increasing level of fat replacement. Organoleptic quality of the product revealed significant (Pin body and texture and product acidity between control and treatments. The total scores of the sensory evaluation of product showed a significant (P<0.05) difference between control and 50 per cent fat replacement whereas the 100 per cent fat replaced samples were comparable with control. The results of the experiment revealed that coconut fat can be replaced upto 100 per cent level in the misty dahi preparation with an advantage of increased protein and curd tension. The 100 per cent replacement level was comparable to control than 50 per cent replacement level as far as the total organoleptic scores are concerned. The product was nutritious and economically cheaper also.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Organisational behaviour of farm workers as antecedent to the performance of pigs in organized farms
    (Department of Extension, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2003) Uma, V; KAU; Jiji, R S
    The objective of the investigation was to study the relationship between organizational behaviour factors of farm workers and production performance parameters of pigs. The nine organized pig farms; seven under Kerala Animal Husbandry Department and the farms of Kerala Livestock Development Board and Kerala Agricultural University were the locale of the study. A total of 61 farm workers who actually involved with the animals on a daily basis and having a working experience of at least six months were the respondents. The data regarding the organizational behaviour factors viz. attitude towards the job, knowledge of pig keeping, skill in pig keeping and job satisfaction were collected from the respondents using structured interview schedule. Job performance and absenteeism were assessed through supervisory rating. The data on production parameters were collected from farm records. About two-third of the respondents were in the medium category for all the organizational behaviour factors. The respondents were satisfied the most with the job aspect 'opportunity for team work' and dissatisfied the most with 'scope to prove merit and excellence'. Intercorrelations of organizational behaviour factors were worked out using Kendall's tau-b rank order correlation. Significant positive correlations were observed between knowledge and skill; astitude and job satisfaction; knowledge and job satisfaction; knowledge and job performance and skill and job performance. Absenteeism had significant negative correlations with both job satisfaction and job performance. The relationship of organizational behaviour factors with production parameters was worked out using Spearman's rank order correlation. A significant negative correlation was found between attitude towards job and stillbirth per litter. Farm workers' knowledge and skill had significant negative correlations with preweaning mortality. Skill had significant positive correlation with conception rate. Job satisfaction had significant negative correlations with weaning weight and weight gain of piglets. Absenteeism had significant positive correlations with preweaning mortality and mortality.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of preservatives on milk solids in cow and buffalo milk
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2001) Radha, K; KAU; Sathian, C T
    Pooled milk samples were collected from cow and buffaloes maintained at the University Livestock Farm at weekly intervals. Three chemical preservatives viz., formalin (0.4 per cent), potassium dichromate (0.4 per cent) and bronopol (0.1 per cent) were studied for their efficiency of preservation. Calculated levels of preservatives were added and the samples were stored at room temperature in dark place. Major milk constituents like fat, total solids and solids not fat were estimated in control and preserved samples. Physical properties of milk such as pH, titratable acidity, clot on boiling test, lactometer reading as well as efficiency of preservation were studied in control and preserved milk samples .. Milk samples treated with formalin could be stored up to 90 days without any spoilage changes. A cream plug formed after 24 hours of storage and a white sedimentation at the bottom appeared after one month of storage. Potassium dichromate treated samples could be stored for 30 days. There after the samples curdled and became green in colour towards the end of the storage period. 11 Bronopol preserved cow and buffalo milk samples could be stored for 24 and 16 days respectively and samples became mild pink in colour as the storage period advanced. There was a significant increase in titratable acidity in cow and buffalo milk samples preserved with all the three chemical preservatives. The increase in acidity was steady and progressive in formalin and bronopol preserved samples. But an abrupt increase in acidity was noticed in potassium dichromate preserved samples immediately after the addition of preservative and there after a successive decrease was noticed. The pH values showed a significant decline during storage in preserved milk samples. Decline in pH was abrupt in potassium dichromate treated samples whereas it was gradual in samples treated with the other two preservatives. Formalin heated milk samples remained COB negative throughout the storage period of 90 days, whereas potassium dichromate and bronopol treated samples became COB positive after 15 and eight days of storage respectively. No significant variation was noticed in fat percentage of preserved milk samples estimated by Gerber method. But a slight decrease in fat per cent was observed in formalin and III potassium dichromate treated samples. The concentration of Sulphuric acid used was increased to 94 per cent for estimating fat percentage in formalin preserved milk samples. Formalin preserved samples showed inconsistent changes in fat percentage estimated by Milko- Tester. So this method cannot be recommended for formalin preserved milk samples. Bronopol treated milk samples showed lesser variation in milk fat percentage estimated by Milko-Tester when compared to potassium dichromate and formalin. There was a non-significant increase in total solids and solids not fat content in potassium dichromate preserved samples. Potassium dichromate preserved samples showed significant increase in lactometer reading, where as formalin and bronopol treated samples did not show any significant changes in lactometer reading. Formalin appears to be ideal for the existing standard methods of estimating milk solids. With the popularization of instrumental methods for fast and accurate analysis of milk constituents, formalin will not be suitable as a milk sample preservative in future. Further, formalin and potassium dichromate have deleterious effects on human health and environment. Even though bronopol is little expensive, it is best suited for instrumental analysis of milk constituents and safe for handlers. So, bronopol is recommended as a preservative for the near future.