The Department of Zoology organized an educational field visit on 22nd March 2026 to Bekal Gokulum Goshala. The visit was led by Dr. Rachana L. Alva and Dr. Rajesh T. P., along with the students of the department. The primary objective of the visit was to provide practical exposure to indigenous cattle breeds, their management, and apiculture practices. At the goshala, students were introduced to a wide variety of indigenous cow breeds including Gir, Hallikar, Baragur, Kasaragod Dwarf, Malnad Gidda, and Umblacherry. The session at the goshala was guided by Dr. Nagratha Hebbar, the owner of the facility. The facility houses around 200 indigenous cattle, all of which are maintained with a focus on conservation and sustainable farming practices. The visit emphasized the importance of preserving native breeds, which are well-adapted to local climatic conditions and possess higher disease resistance compared to exotic breeds.
Following the visit to the goshala, the group proceeded to an apiculture unit managed by Rajan Padannakad. He is also a skilled resource person associated with College of Agriculture Padannakkad. The apiculture session provided hands-on knowledge about honeybee biology, behavior, and management. Students were introduced to different species of honeybees, their caste system (queen, workers, and drones), and their roles within the colony. Mr. Rajan demonstrated practical aspects such as identifying the queen bee, maintaining hive conditions, seasonal management of colonies, and protecting bees from pests and diseases. A key highlight of the session was the demonstration of honey extraction using modern equipment. Students observed the process of removing honeycombs, centrifugation to extract honey, and filtering techniques to ensure purity.
