Use of food cubes in cattle fattening: evaluation of potential effects on the libido bulls

Abstract

Following the study on sheep in 2007, the results of the test showed that cubic Jumbo had no negative effect on libido sheep, the Scientific and Technical Committee of the ANSSA recommended to resume study on cattle. The present study objet was to contribute to a better understanding of the effect of food cubic on the intensive fattening cattle. For that an observational study was performed on 20 Fulani bulls aged 4-7 years and 6 cows Moorish empty 4 to 7 years. The bulls were divided into 7 groups of three heads each representing 7 diets. Six (6) cows were used to entice the male climbs to measure libido bulls. Lot I was the witness group without food cube and lots II, III and IV received 120 g of food cubes dissolved in water and administered orally to the bulls once during the entire duration of the study. Lots V, VI and VII received daily 120 g of food cubes to powder and mixed with 4 kg concentrate compound. The animals had free access to drinking water. Health monitoring took place every day. The trial lasted 185 days, there were 30 days of training bulls, 15 days into diet of bulls and 140 days of measurement libido. Throughout the study period of 7 lots bulls kept their own libido (average less than 15 minutes). They varied between 9.5 min and 10 min. There was no statistically significant difference at5% threshold between the average recorded by lots libido II, III, IV and lots V, VI and VII. At the start of the study without consumption of food cubes, the average libidos recorded at 7 lots have not been statistically different at the 5% threshold. Subsequently, the average recorded libido periods (P1 to P6) were statistically different from those recorded at the end of the study. They were 5.6 and 6.0 against 9.2 mn and 9.6 mn. The results of the consumption of food cubes improved libido and had no negative effect on sexual function bulls.