Name of the Unit: University Livestock Farm (ULF) and Fodder Research Development Scheme (FRDS) – Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU)

About :

Origin & History

University Livestock Farm (ULF) and Fodder Research Development Scheme (FRDS) – Mannuthy, Thrissur under Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Govt of Kerala (GoK) is one among the few dairy cattle farms in public domain that has completed 100 years of glorious existence in Kerala. Our rich heritage and distinct legacy dates back to 1917 when Thiru – Kochi Government under Royal Cochin Dynasty established this farm in 400 acres of land as Ollukara Central Livestock Farm (OCLF). Post Independence, OCLF was transferred to State Department of Animal Husbandry and thereafter Government Veterinary College, Mannuthy was established in its campus in 1955. Legacy of the farm was amalgamated with that of the college from then and both institutions have worked in unison towards development of animal husbandry sector in Kerala. OCLF came under the purview of Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur in 1972 and then on adopted its present name ULF&FRDS. It became an integral part of KVASU when the same was established in 2011 with Head quarters at Pookode, Wayanadu. ULF&FRDS has played a pivotal role in developing technologies and imparting knowledge in animal husbandry sector that has enriched the practice of Veterinary Science and Dairy Technology as a professions to reckon not only in the state of Kerala but also in other parts of the country. The farm has 100 elite cross bred cattle along with its calves and heifers (herd size:250) that produces on an average 1000 Litres of milk daily. The farm also has 35 Murrah cross bred Buffaloes along with its calves and heifers (herd size:85) that produces on an average 150 litres of milk daily. The farm undertakes Fodder cultivation in an area of 40 acres and have cereal purpose fodders namely Maize and Sorghum along with perennial grasses namely, guinea grass, para grass, congo signal and cross bred napier variants namely CO3, CO4 and CO5 in its plots. The farm boast of having a motivated team of teaching and non teaching staff along with an efficient labour force that caters to the needs of cattle and buffalo farming, fodder cultivation and other duties. The team of ULF&FRDS strives hard to keep its rich heritage intact and remain true to core objectives of transforming dairy farming scenario of Kerala into economical, self sustainable and efficient sector for all venturing farmers/entrepreneurs.

Mandate:

Mandates of the farm is to strive and achieve Teaching, Research and Extension mandates benefitting Doctoral, Post Graduate and Graduate level students of Veterinary and Dairy Engineering, Diploma and Para Veterinary students of KVASU, Practicing Professionals, Progressive Farmers and Prospective Entrepreneurs.
To act as a Instructional farm for teaching UG, PG and Diploma students of KVASU
To act as a Research and Development centre for scientific cattle & buffalo husbandry, nutrition, genetics, reproduction and other avenues
To act as a nodal centre for fodder seed supply and research on fodder cultivation

Funding: KVASU

General functioning: A seed money of Rs 5000 was allotted to start Revolving Fund titled ‘ULF & FRDS Development Scheme Revolving Fund’on 09-04-2015 in the financial year 2015-2016. Seed money was returned back to the university same financial year. Opening Balance of the RF in 2019-2020 was 471102 and Closing Balance same year was 772082
 

Staff structure

• Scientific staff
• Professor 1
• Assistant Professor 2
• Administrative staff 6
• Farm Supervisors 7
• Class IV 3

• Labourers - permanent 99
• Labourers - casual 6
• Others- Specify- 4
• Total number of permanent staff 118
• Daily wage employees 3

Accomplishments – (Technology/product developed, patents, awards,NABL/ ISO certification, production/service turnouts …… Substantiate with charts or photos if required)

• A total production of 316790.7 Liters of Cow milk & 52813.6 Liters of Buffalo milk was produced last year
• 160436 Fodder slips CO3 & CO5 & 20630 Fodder slips of Guinea Grass was distributed to Farmers
• 190225 Kg of Green Grass was distributed by FRDS
• 17946 L of Cow Urine, 6395 Kg of Vermicompost, 210776 kg of Raw cow dung 41380 kg of Dry Cow dung Powder was contributed to promote organic agriculture in Kerala

6. Research activities

A. PhD

• Evaluation of rumen fermentation pattern and nutrient utilization in Murrah buffalo, Vechur and crossbred cattle on different feeding regimen.
• Reproductive performance of early postpartum cross-bred cows supplemented with bypass fat and subjected to hormonal induction of oestrus.
• Meteorological profile of Thrissur and assessing its relationship with physiological stress parameters in crossbred cattle.
• Improving efficiency of production in early lactating dairy cows through augmentation of rumen biomass production- Dr. Jasmine Rani (PhD)

B. MVSc

• Isolation and identification of bacterial agents associated with polyarthritis in calves.
• Nutritive evaluation of palmyra seed husk and sugarcane bagasse in cross bred calves.
• Effect of feeding hydroponic maize fodder in early lactating cross bred cows.
• Solids Not Fat profile of crossbred cow milk.
• Rumen metagenomic profiles and methane emission levels in Vechur and cross bred cattle under different dietary regimens.
• Evaluation of performance of crossbred calves under different feeding systems.
• Development of protocol for management of hoof problems in cross bred cattle.
• Modeling of best fit lactation curve incross bred cattle of Kerala.
• Endometrial ecotexture, cytology and biopsy in post-partum subclinical endometritis of crossbred dairy cows.
• Comparison of thermal stress alleviation methods for Murrah buffaloes in Humid Tropics
• Effect of supplementation of rumen protected choline and methionine in early lactating dairy cows
• Metabolic and productive responses to dietary protein levels in transition cows
• Antimicrobial resistance profiling of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis

7.Academic activities (Course/trainings offered etc…Details of cources will be collected through another format)

• Internship Training Programme for BVSc & AH students
• Farm Clinics for IV and V Year BVSc students
• Farm training for B Tech Dairy students
• ETR on Fodder Production for BVSc students
• Farm training for Dairy Diploma students
• OJT programmes for 94 Vocational Higher secondary students

Extension activities
Radio talks, Farmers Training Programme, Videos & Popular Articles

Publications:
Leaflets on Calf Management, Hybrid Napier Cultivation etc published to benefit farmers
Services offered (How to avail service, fee for services, timing)

• Cow & Buffalo milk for distribution through KVASU Dairy Plant
• Sale of Fodder slips CO3 & CO5 & Guinea Grass
• Sale of Cow Urine, Vermicompost, Raw cow dung, Dry Cow dung Powder to promote organic agriculture in Kerala