Browsing by Author "George Thomas"

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Credit marketing in rural Kerala product mix and consumer behaviour analysis
(Department of Rural Marketing Management, College of co-operation Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2000) George Thomas; Sukumaran, A
Input management in dairy co-operatives of Ollukkara block
(Department of Co- operative Management, College of Co- operation, Banking and Management,Vellanikkara, 1994) George Thomas; Mani, K P
The study entitles input Management in Dairy Co-operatives of Ollukkara Block was undertaken to examine the input management of dairy co operatives, identify the farmers preference for input services, and identify the problems as also constraints in input management by dairy co operatives. Three Anand pattern dairy co operatives, falling respectively in the classes of well performing societies satisfactorily performing societies and poorly performing societies, were selected from Ollukkara block of Thrissur district. Thirty farmers each were drawn at random from these societies for gathering primary data. While the primary data were collected in 1993, the secondary data pertain to a nine year period from 1984. Simple averages, percentages, tabular method, priority index, satisfaction index and direct reporting comprised the methodology. The supply of concentrate cattle feed was the major input service in the sample societies. Despite this, about 80 per cent of the estimated demand for feed was met by the private sector. The societies too depended more on the private sector for procuring feed, thanks to the inadequate production and irregular supply of feed by the co operative union. The farmers were less satisfied over this input service because of reasons like un preferred brands supplied, quality deterioration, stock out situations, inconvenient time schedule for feed supply, non availability of feed in small lots etc. But as regards price, and mode of payment, they were satisfied. Private traders outdid the societies on preferred brand, brand choice, continuous supply of feed, supply in small quantities and at convenient time. Only 56 per cent of the farmers were aware of the provision of veterinary service, and 31 per cent alone availed of the service. Mismatch between need and time of service, procedural complexities, irregularity of doctors, difficulty in bringing animals to societies etc. deterred farmers from using thi service. Supply of fodder seeds too did not yield much response from farmers because of scarcity of land, poor crop, higher crop etc., besides the abundance of natural fodder. The input management is to be made efficient by improving upon the various services in the interest of the farmers.
Performance of mulberry silkworm races and hybrids in Kerala
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) George Thomas; Dale, D
Silkworm rearing experiment was conducted in the rearing house of the sericulture section in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani in 93 – 94 to identify a pure race and crose breed suitable for rearing in the southern districts of Kerala, with reference of productivity and commercial quality of cocoons. The trial was conducted with completely randomized design and the treatments were replicated thrice. Four replications were used for studying the fecundities and female pupal weight of pure races. The experiment was repeated in three seasons viz. cold season during December – January, summer season February – March and rainy season during May – June. The percentage of missing larvae during early instars was least in the cross breeds which were on par and pure races suffered heavy loss. Cross breed PM X NB 4 D2 was superior to others in case of total larval duration disease incidence, percentage of spinning and cocoons yield. Among the bivoltines NB4 D2 performed best with shortest larval period, less disease incidence, higher percentage of spinning and higher cocoon yield. It was superior to other bivoltines during most seasons. It consumed maximum food had highest growth index and larval weight in all seasons. Cocoon characters viz. shell weight, shell ratio, cocoon size and reelability of cocoons were also higher. Single cocoon weight, fecundity and female pupal weight were higher in KA. NB7 was heavily infected with diseases in stock rearing it self. Of the cross breeds, PM x NB4D2 was superior to other cross breeds in respect of all parameters during the different seasons except in single cocoon weight. In this case PM x KA performed well. Leaf consumption, weight, length and growth index of fifth instar larva, percentage of spinning and yield of cocoons, size of cocoons, single cocoon weight, shell weight, shell ratio, fecundity and female pupal weight were reduced in summer season. But disease incidence was increased and missing percentage of larvae during early instars, total larval duration, and reelability were not affected by climate.
Role of selected minerals in ruminal indigestion in cross-bred cattle
(Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1983) George Thomas; Alikutty, K M
etc. The present investigations were taken up with the objectives to survey the incidence and seasonal dynamics of digestive disorders in cattle in Kerala, to study the associated changes in physical characters, Ph, protozoal motility and sedimatnation activity time of rumen liquor and the status of selected minerals in rumen liquor and blood in clinical cases of simple indigestion in crose – bred cattle and based on the findings in the above to modify and compare the line of therapy for the same. Date collected from selected veterinary hospitals in the field and under the Kerala Agricultural University showed that digestive disorders formed 33.10 per cent of the total of the incidence of diseases in cattle. Among the digestive disorders, cases of indigestion as a whole were 70.07 per cent and simple indigestion mostly associated with dietetic errors were 48.90 per cent. Influence of season on the incidence of these conditions was significant, being highest in summer. This could be attributed to irregularities in with non – availability of good quality fodder throughout the year and feeding cattle predominantly on dry and coarse locally available unconventional animal rations and inadequate supply of water during the season. Eight apparently healthy adult cross-bred cattle from the University Livestock Farm, Mannuthy, formed the healthy control animals (Group I). Twelve clinical cases of simple indigestion in adult cross – bred cattle divided at random into two groups of six each constituted the treatment groups (Group II and III). In Group II animals conventional therapy consisting of bitter stomachics orally and liver extract parenterally was tried. In animals of group III modified therapy comprising of bitter stomachics and ‘Anorexon’ (pfizer pvt. Ltd.) tablets orally and ‘Calborol’ (M & B pvt. Ltd.) intravenously was adopted. Course of the disease was studied and samples of rumen liquor and blood were collected for analysis on the first, fourth and seventh day of admission in the clinic. Important clinical signs of the disease were slight general depression and dullness, partial or complete loss of appetite, suspension of rumination, cessation or depressed rumen contractions, normal or pesty and scanty dung or presence of mild diarrhoes and drop in milk yield. The body temperature and rates of pulse and respiration were normal. Physical characters of the rumen liquor from cattle with simple indigestion were altered in that the colour was brownish yellow/brownish with faintly aromatic/faintly sour odour and thin/thick consistency compared to the greenish yellow colour, aromatic odour and thick consistency of rumen liquor from healthy control animals. Protozoal motility was suppressed (slow (+) to moderate (++) and SAT was prolonged to 26.16 + 1.70 minutes. Levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the rumen liquor and blood were significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in the cases studied. However, the levels of sodium and potassium did not show any significant variations before, during or after therapy. Mean calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels of rumen liquor in affected animals were 10.20 + 0.37 mg/dl, 7.76 + 0.23 mg/dl, 5.85 + 0.20 mg/dl, 132.33 + 1.17 mEg/L and 23.93 + 1.74 mEg/L respectively and the corresponding values in blood were 10.17 + 0.096 mg/dl, 5.17 + 0.093 mg/dl, 2.12 + 0.28 mg/dl, 150.35 + 1.30 mEg/L and 4.61 + 0.13 mEg/L. Physical characters, protozoal motility and SAT of the rumen liquor have almost returned to normal ranges following therapy. Improvements in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium level in rumen liquor and blood could presumably be associated with revivel of appetite and increased intake of feed following therapy. On the basis of better clinical response as judged by early return of appetite and milk yield, better improvements in the microbial activity of rumen liquor and mineral status of rumen liquor and blood and shorter recovery period, the modified therapy was found superior to the conventional therapy for the clinical management of simple indigestion in cross – bred cattle.
The weed flora in surgarcane fields of Palghat district
(Kerala Agricultural University, 1993) Girija Devi, L; Neelakantan Potty, N; Abraham, C T; George Thomas