Major thrust areas:

• Cattle Breeding
• Goat Breeding
• Rabbit Breeding
• Domestic Animal Diversity
• Conservation of Germplasm
• Cytogenetics
• Immunogenetics
• Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology

Research News & Events:

1. Chromosome profile of Asian Elephant - Funded by KAU
   • The chromosome complement of Asian elephant was established for the first time
   • The chromosome profile revealed 2n = 56 (54A+SM X+A Y)
   • The comparative study of chromosome profile between tusker and Makhna did not reveal any difference in Karyotype.
2. Chromosome profile of buffaloes in Kerala state - Funded by KAU
   • The generic architecture of buffalo present in Kerala was analyzed.
   • In Kerala three types of buffalo with distinct chromosome numbers were identified. 
   • The Riverine type with 2n = 50, Swamp type with 2n =48 & its crosses with 2n = 49 were located.
   • All this genotypes of buffaloes exhibited normal behavior and fertility in Kerala conditions.
3. AICRP on Goat for Milk Production - Funded by ICAR
   • Introduced Saanen and Alpine germplasm of goat in the state to improve the milk production of native goats.
   • Saanen X Malabari (Sarala) and Alpine X Malabari (Kalpana) were evolved. 
   • The milk yield per day was 395.5 g and 460.3 g for Malabari and Saanen X Malabari respectively. 
4. Karyological studies on cattle of Kerala state with special reference to infertility and sterility - Funded by ICAR
   • A cytogenetics laboratory with facilities for Karyotyping was established. This happened to be the first laboratory in Kerala to take up chromosome analysis.
   • The chromosome status of cattle of Kerala was established. 
   • A polymorphism of morphology of the Y chromosome was observed in Indicus and different exotic cattle. This enabled the identification of species and breed, involved in the breeding programme.
   • Numerical chromosome defects like tetraploidy (4n), freemartinism, and chimerism were identified and their association with reproductive disorders was established.
   • It was recommended that a regular screening programme for chromosomal defect should be undertaken in all breeding and improvement programmes of cattle.
5. Progeny Testing of Crossbred Bulls in Rural Areas - Funded by ICAR
   • A Milk recording system at farmers’ level was developed.
   • Regression factors to predict 305 days lactation milk yield based on part lactation records and peak yield were established.
   • Factors to predict 305-day milk yield from a single day milk yield has been developed.
   • Since 65% of the crossbred cows produce milk with less than 3.5% fat in the second month of lactation a recommendation had been given to Govt. for changing the PFA rules in order to save the poor farmers from the cases of adulteration of milk.
6. Breeding Rabbit for Meat Production - Funded by ICAR
   • Broiler rabbit farming was introduced and established in our State.
   • The diallele cross involving three breeds of rabbit viz., Soviet Chinchila, Newzeland White and local were analyzed. 
   • The Newzeland White crosses exhibited better growth rate from first to twelve months age.
7. TRYSM Project on Rabbit - Funded by Govt. of Kerala
   • The techniques on breeding and management of rabbit were established.
   • Thus broiler rabbit farming was popularized in the state.
8. Biochemical Polymorphism in Cattle - Funded by ICAR
   • In cattle the blood protein Polymorphism was studied with the objective to correlate with production trait.
   • Six transferrin and three haemoglobin types were identified in cattle.
   • Polymorphism was observed in Blood proteins like gamma globulin, transferrin and anti trypsin
9. Genetic Studies on Wild Buffaloes of Northeastern Region of India - Funded by Govt. of India
   • Three types of sex chromatins were identified in wild buffalo seen in Kaziranka National Park, Assam.
   • They are A- drumstick, B – Club shaped and C – sessile.
   • The techniques and dosage of drugs used for tranquilizing wild buffaloes were standardized.
10. Network project on Goat improvement - Funded by ICAR
    • The survey of Malabari goat was carried out in Cannannore, Calicut and Malappuram districts.
    • Breed descriptors for phenotypic and reproductive traits were established.
    • This study could not be completed and was proposed as a separate programme.
11. Blood group and Biochemical polymorphism in cattle - Funded by ICAR
    • A blood-grouping laboratory for cattle was established.
    • 13 blood group reagents were developed and were internationally accepted.
    • These findings were used in establishing the parentage of breeding bulls of the state.
12. Conservation of germplasm of Vechur cattle of coastal area and other dwarf cattle of high ranges of Kerala - Funded by ICAR
    • The Vechur cattle of Kerala state, the smallest breed ever known was identified and conserved. 
    • A nucleus stock of more than 100 of Vechur and other dwarf cattle was maintained and production and reproduction traits were studied. 
    • This has a height of 90cm with weight less than 130 kg. for female and 170 for male.
    • The milk yield ranged from 2- 4 kg per day with a fat content of 4.5%
13. An Investigation on chromosomal damages in cattle of radioactive belt areas of Kerala - Funded by ICAR
    • In Chavara panchayath the level was above 200μr per hour, which is two thousand fifty times more than the allowable level. (0.05 μr per hour)
    • The quantitative effect of radiation on DNA was evaluated in terms of SCE. 
    • The study revealed that as the level of radiation increased, the % of cells with SCE and the number of SCE present were also increased and reached maximum at higher levels of radiation.
    • Thus the conclusion made was chromosome lesions were produced by radiation, but at low level, are excellently repaired naturally or balanced by exchange mechanism, but this warranty the genetic risk involved.
14. Survey, characterization and conservation of Attappady Black Goat - Funded by ICAR
    • A meat type goat was identified and surveyed
    • Physical profile of the animal and management practices were described
    • The colour was pure black with bronze coloured eyes
    • Body weight of adult male was 35 kg and 30 for female
    • A detailed conservation programme on this breed was recommended
15. Molecular Genetic Characterisation and Genetic Improvement of Malabari Goat - Funded by DBT
    • DNA polymorphisms analysed at economically important loci : Growth hormone, prolactin, b-lactoglobulin, k-casein and MHC.
      Characterized the breed using RAPD, RFLP Microsatellites and DNA sequencing
16. Animal Genetic Resource Bio-diversity - Funded by NATP
    • Under this project scientific survey for collecting information on breed/animal type, information on demographical and geographical distribution, the native environment, enumeration of breed and characterization of elite specimens was carried out.
    • Breed were prepared for three genetic groups of cattle and one buffalo population
17. Conservation and evaluation of Malabari goat - Funded by ICAR
    • The description for Malabari goats were developed. The Cytogenetic and immuno-genetic studies of Malabari goats in its breeding tracts were carried out .
    • The studies on growth, milk production and reproduction traits were carried out under farm conditions.
18. Molecular Characterization and Adaptability Studies in Vechur cattle and Dwarf cattle - Funded by ICAR
    • A gene bank consisting of Genomic DNA from 129 Vechur and 69 Kasargode cattle has been established and are available for molecular studies.
    • PCR-RFLP typing protocols have been developed for genotyping Growth hormone (GH), k-casein (K-CN), b-lactoglobulin (β-LG), prolactin and DRB3 loci in Vechur and Kasaragode cattle.
    • The protocol for microsatellite typing using radioisotopes and autoradiography has been developed.
19. Micro satellite markers for genetic improvement of cattle - Funded by ICAR
    • A panel of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers suitable for parentage verification in cattle has been identified
20. Genetic Variability Analysis of Indian Elephants using Microsatellite markers - Funded by DBT
    • A DNA bank consisting of 337 genomic DNA samples of Indian elephants established
    • Determined the number of alleles, allele size range, heterozygosity, PIC, parentage exclusion probabilities and individualization potential of 18 microsatellite loci.
    • A panel of microsatellite markers was set up which could be useful in individual identification, verification of parentage, testing of inbreeding among wild populations and other purposes such as wild life census and forensics.
21. Molecular Characterization of local pigs of Kerala using Microsatellite markers - Funded byICAR
    • Angamali Pigs were found to be different from other indigenous pigs of Kerala on Phylogeny analysis.
    • The local pigs were genotyped using 25 microsatellite markers.
22. Genetic Evaluation of Milk Production & Composition traits of Cattle in Wayanad district - Funded by AHD
    • Considering all the stages of lactation together, 60.1% cows in morning milk and 77.6 % of cows in evening milking had milk solids not fat percentage below the prescribed PFA standards of 8.5%.
    • The overall average for milk solids not fat percentage for morning and evening were 8.35 ± 0.02 and 8.21 ± 0.03 , which was below the prescribed PFA standards
23. Studies on prolactin gene polymorphism in Vechur cattle
    • The genetic polymorphism at the third exon of bovine prolactin (PRL) gene in Vechur cattle was investigated by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.
24. Screening for BLAD genetic defect in Vechur Cattle
    • The Vechur cattle were screened for the presence of the bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD) genetic defect using the PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing methods and found that none of the animals under study carry the BLAD allele.
25. Studies on K-casein (K-CN) gene in Vechur Cattle
    • The DNA sequence variations at the K-casein (K-CN) gene locus in Vechur and Kasargode cattle were investigated by the PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing methods.
26. Genetic improvement of Malabari goats under field conditions
    • The socioeconomic status of Malabari goat farmers were analysed in four northern districts.
    • Genetic improvement programmes are undertaken by selection of bucks from the farmers flock based on growth rate and dam’s yield.
    • The breeding value of the bucks used in the farmers flock were estimated and the genetic trend was caculated.

Publications:

• Books/bulletins (10 nos.)
• Articles (210 nos.)