Physiological and Antioxidative Responses of Feedlot Bulls Fattened During the Hot Period of Dry Season in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Feedlot bull fattening is one of the most profitable livestock business particularly in Mubi because of the presence of the International cattle market („Tike‟). They are fattened around the river banks in the dry season of Mubi when there is rise in temperature and other environmental factors that can affect the performance and carcass quality of such bulls. This experiment therefore was carried out to evaluate the effect of locations on physiological and antioxidative responses of feedlot bulls fattened in Mubi. A total of sixty (60) clinically healthy bulls comprising of twenty (20) heads each at Buladega, Tike cattle market and Njairi feedlot sites were used for this experiment. Data obtained was subjected to statistical analyses using SAS software package and means that were significantly different were separated using Least Square Difference. Parameters measured include physiological traits, anti-oxidative traits and heat stress indicator (Heat Tolerance Coefficient). Location of fattening significantly (p0.05). Tike cattle market recorded the highest of all the significantly affected heat indices except for pulse rate where Buladega shared superiority with Tike cattle market (35.67 and 35.75 beat/minute), respectively. Location of fattening has affected (p