Forty-eight 19-wk-old Bovan White laying hens were fed 1 of 5 diets containing either hemp seed (HS) or hemp seed oil (HO). The level of HO was 4, 8, or 12%, whereas the level was 10 or 20% for the HS. A set of 8 birds fed wheat-, barley-, and corn oil-based diets served as the control. Performance was monitored over 12 wk. Average hen-day egg production was not affected upon feeding of either HS or HO diets. Egg weight was higher than that of the controls for hens consuming the 20% HS diet (P < 0.05). Feed intake was lower than that of the controls for birds consuming the 4% HO diet but similar across other treatments. Final BW were not affected by diet, with the exception of being lower than that of the controls (P < 0.05) in hens consuming the 12% HO diet. The total egg yolk n-3 fatty acid content increased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing dietary α-linolenic acid provision with the HS- or HO-based diets. A quadratic response (P < 0.05) was observed for docosahexaenoic acid levels in egg yolk in response to increasing dietary α-linolenic acid supply. The expression of hepatic fatty acid desaturase 1 and 2, key genes for the desaturation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, was significantly decreased (50-60% of controls; P < 0.05) as a result of feeding HS or HO diets. Based on the results from the current study, the inclusion of the hemp products HS or HO in the diets of laying hens up to a maximum level of 20 and 12%, respectively, does not adversely effect the performance of laying hens and leads to the enrichment of the n-3 fatty acid content of eggs.

This study provides evidence that HS and hempseed oil (HO) can safely be utilized as feed ingredients for laying hens to produce table eggs that are enriched in essential fatty acids. Additionally, the eggs procured from these hens had similar aroma and flavor compared to eggs from hens not fed any hemp. The greater the dietary hemp inclusion, the more pigmented the resulting yolks became in terms of darkness, redness, and yellowness.

Li, S., Gozho, G. N., Gakhar, N., Khafipour, E., Krause, D. O. and Plaizier, J. C. 2012. Evaluation of diagnostic measures for subacute ruminal acidosis in dairy cows. Can J. Anim. Sci. 92: 353–364. Effects of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) challenges on measurements of feces, urine, milk and blood samples, and of feeding behavior were investigated to determine which of these measurements may aid in the diagnosis of SARA. Eight multiparous lactating dairy cows were used in a crossover design with two 6-wk experimental periods. During weeks 1, 2, and 6, cows received a control diet with a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 58:42. During weeks 3 to wk 5, a grain-based SARA challenge (GBSC) or an alfalfa-pellet SARA challenge (APSC) was conducted by replacing 12% of the dry matter of the control ration with pellets containing 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barley, and by replacing 26% of the dry matter of the control ration with pellets of ground alfalfa, respectively. The rumen pH depression did not differ between the challenges. The GBSC increased the concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in feces and of serum amyloid A in blood, but decreased that of milk fat and urea in blood. The APSC increased the urine pH, the net-acid-base excretion, and the red blood cell count and potassium concentration in blood. Both challenges increased the concentrations of LPS and propionate in rumen fluid, protein in milk, glucose, lactate and sodium and the partial pressure of CO2in blood, and tended to decrease the concentration of chloride in blood. The measures that were similarly affected by both challenges may aid in the diagnosis of a rumen pH depression. Differences between the SARA challenges suggest that this disorder is not solely rumen pH dependent.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of hens (feed intake, rate of lay, egg weight, and BW gain), egg quality and blood biochemistry (enzymes, electrolytes, proteins, and other plasma constituents) of laying hens fed diets containing hemp products. Forty-eight Lohmann LSL-Classic (white-egg layers; 19 wk of age) were individually caged and fed 1 of 6 wheat-barley-soybean-based diets for a period of 12 wk. The diets consisted of hempseed (HS; 10, 20, or 30%), hempseed oil (HO; 4.5 or 9.0%), or a control diet (corn oil-based). All diets were formulated to contain similar levels of crude fat (11%), energy (2,800 kcal/kg), and CP (17%). Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using the repeated measure analysis of the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. The results indicated that the inclusion of up to 30 and 9.0% HS and HO, respectively, to diets of laying hens had no significant effects on hen performance, egg quality, or plasma level of metabolites (proteins, glucose, uric acid, and cholesterol) and electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, P, and Ca). Overall plasma enzyme concentrations, particularly gamma-glutamyl transferase, were significantly (P < 0.01) lowest at the 10 and 20% levels of HS inclusion, or at the 4.5% HO level of inclusion of the hempseed products compared with the higher levels or control fed hens. Similar effects were also observed for plasma aspartate aminotransferase levels but with the HS enriched diets only (P < 0.05), particularly being lowest at the inclusion levels of 10 and 20% HS compared with the control. The results may imply a possible protective effect of HS- and HO-containing diets, particularly at 10% HS, 20% HS, and 4.5% HO levels, on liver damage/injury. In summary, both HO and HS appear to be well tolerated by laying hens as judged by markers of plasma clinical chemistry supporting the safety and efficacy of hemp products for use in laying hen rations.

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