There is a well displayed scientific museum attached to this department that provides an exposure to various mounted skeletons (including that of elephant) and specimens to researchers, UG & PG students of this college, school and college students from different parts of the state and the nation and farmers from different parts of Kerala. Apart from acting as resource persons in other institutions, the faculty also handles several classes/sessions for different training programmes conducted for Veterinary Surgeons from AHD, Livestock Inspectors, etc. The staff members are also involved in various other extension activities such as Director of Students’ Welfare of KAU, Member and Chairman of Finance Committee of Kerala State Veterinary Council, NSS Programme Officer, Academic Officer of the College, Secretary to the PTA, Assistant Editor of the Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Assistant to Professor (RC) and Officer i/c of the ARIS Cell and the Students’ Computer Club of the College. The staff members of this department are approved referees of several nationally acclaimed research journals.
There is a well displayed scientific museum attached to this department that provides an exposure to various mounted skeletons (including that of elephant) and specimens to researchers, UG & PG students of this college, school and college students from different parts of the state and the nation and farmers from different parts of Kerala. Apart from acting as resource persons in other institutions, the faculty also handles several classes/sessions for different training programmes conducted for Veterinary Surgeons from AHD, Livestock Inspectors, etc. The staff members are also involved in various other extension activities such as Director of Academic Staff College, KVASU, Academic Professor (PG), NSS Programme Officer, Academic Officer of the College, Secretary to the PTA, Associate Editor of the Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Assistant to Professor (RC) and Vice Patron of the ARIS Cell and the Students’ Computer Club of the College. The staff members of this department are approved referees of several nationally acclaimed research journals.
Research Facilities
Research facilities include rotary microtomes, a high resolution electronic camera suitable for taking photomicrographs and a well equipped PG research lab with facilities for routine and special histological and histochemical staining techniques.
Research news and Events
· Comparative study was made on the gross as well as the histomorphology of ruminant stomach of goat (Capra hircus) which is still helpful for the species identification, especially in the field of meat inspection. It has enlightened the comparative digestive physiology of goat
· Another extensive study was conducted on the comparative anatomy of corpus leutum and placenta of goat. This study anatomically proved that goat is a corpus leutum dependent animal throughout its pregnancy and the goat placenta has less endocrine function compared to other domestic animals. This correlative gross anatomical, histomorphologicaI and histochemical studies have great value in the basic science particularly in the field of Anatomy, endocrine and parturition physiology as well as in the field of clinical obstretics and species identification
· Studies on the postnatal development of bursa of Fabricius (lymphoid organ) of duck. This study especially immuno-histochemistry revealed the development of immune system in duck. It can provide very important information in immunizing programmes of ducks in our state.
· Studies on the prematerial development of brain and spinal cord in goat revealed the gross as well as histomorphological changes of nervous tissue in goat which help to interpret the developmental anomalies.
· Regression equations were derived from significantly correlated brain and body parameters to predict brain parameters during gestation from known body parameters of the goat foetus.
· Histomorphological studies were conducted on the skin of Large White Yorkshire pigs and found that the skin of male animals were thicker than that of females. Maximum thickness of the skin was noticed in the snout and minimum in the ventral abdomen. Grouping of hairs were evident and the sweat glands were of apocrine type except in the snout and dorsal nasal regions. Maximum subcutaneous fat thickness was noticed in the neck dorsal region.
· A study was conducted on the postnatal development of oviduct in Japanese quail from day-old to 60 days of age. The isthmus region was relatively longer, which contributed to the thicker shell membranes of the quail eggs.
· In Kuttanad ducks, a well developed vaginal sphincter and abundant diffuse lymphatic tissue in the oviduct reflects increased immunocompetancy during egg production in the species as an adaptationto its habitat.
· Prenatal development of major lymphocentres and lymphatics in goats revealed that all lymph nodes presented aggregation of lymphocytes in the cortex by the 5th month, thereby attaining a structural similarity to that in the adults towards the term except for the absence of macrophages and germinal centres.
Extension services
The department takes pride in having a well displayed scientific museum ornated with various mounted skeletons and fixed specimens (including that of wild animals) available not only for our undergraduate and postgraduate students but also for researchers, school and college students and farmers from different parts of the nation. Apart from acting as resource persons in other institutions, the faculty also handles several classes/sessions for different training programmes conducted for Veterinary Surgeons from AHD, Livestock Inspectors, etc.