EVALUATION OF A NOVEL BLEND OF PREBIOTIC AND PROBIOTIC COMPOUNDS WITH CHELATED MINERAL ADDITIVES ON BREEDING BULL GROWTH AND FERTILITY

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of prebiotic and probiotic compounds with chelated mineral additives (COMBO) that was manufactured for feedlot cattle health and growth, on breeding bull growth and fertility. The 2019 spring-born bull calves (n=23) were weaned and stratified by age of dam (AOD) and weaning weight into one of two groups, the control group (n=11) or the treatment group (n=12). The same dietary ration was provided for both groups except for the ASU pre-mix additive in the control group being substituted with the COMBO additive in the treatment group. Weight and scrotal circumference were taken once a month during the trial period and semen was collected on the last measurement day for a semen quality test. The measurements were assessed on day 58 and day 115 of the research period. The treatment groups average daily gain (ADG) showed improvement to day 58 then maintained a steady growth as the control (P≤0.05). Scrotal circumference up to day 115 was less (P≤0.05) with the control having better results. The semen testing concentration did not seem to be of great concern, but the semen motility and progression were less (P≤0.05) making the semen sample of undesirable quality. The measurements were analyzed with the impact of the diet and an injectable trace mineral (ITM). The results indicate that feeding the COMBO additive had an unfavorable impact on bull growth and fertility.