Assessment of spent hemp biomass as a potential ingredient in ruminant diet: nutritional quality and effect on performance, meat and carcass quality, and hematological parameters in finishing lambs

Abstract

Spent hemp biomass (SHB), a byproduct of cannabinoids extraction from the production of industrial hemp has not been approved by FDA-CVM since its effects on animal health, performance, and product quality are unknown. Our objective was to investigate the effects of feeding two levels of SHB and a four-week withdrawal period on performance, carcass characteristic, meat quality and hematological parameters in finishing lambs. A total of 35 weaned, Polypay male lambs kept in single pens were randomly assigned to five feeding treatments (n=7) and fed diets containing either no SHB (CON) or SHB at 10% (LH1) or 20% (HH1) for 4 weeks with 4 weeks of clearing period from SHB, or SHB at 10 (LH2) or 20% (HH2) for 8 weeks. Chemical analysis revealed SHB to have nutritive quality similar to alfalfa with no mycotoxin, terpenes, or organic residuals as a result of the extraction process. Feed intake of lambs was negatively affected by 20% SHB in Period 1 but not in Period 2 where feed intake was the greatest in HH1 and LH2. In contrast, none of the performance data, including liveweight gains, were different across the groups and periods. In Period 1, blood glucose, cholesterol, calcium, paraoxonase, and tocopherol were decreased by the level of SHB fed, while bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were increased. In Period 2, concentration in blood of urea, magnesium, bilirubin, ALP, and ferric reducing ability of the plasma (FRAP) were higher in LH2 and HH2 as compared to CON, while β-hydroxybutyrate was lower in HH2. Blood parameters related to liver health, kidney function, immune status, and inflammation were unaffected by feeding SHB. Most carcass and meat quality parameters did not differ across feeding groups either. Except carcass purge loss and meat cook loss were larger in lambs that were fed 20% SHB. Although lower feed intake of lambs that were fed 20% SHB initially in period 1 suggested SHB was not palatable to the lambs, increased feed intake at lower level of inclusion at 10% in Period 2 may point to a positive long-term effect of feeding SHB.

Replacing alfalfa hay with industrial hemp ethanol extraction byproduct and Chinese wildrye hay: Effects on lactation performance, plasma metabolites, and bacterial communities in Holstein cows

“…Dry matter intake did not differ significantly, and mixing with silage masked the small amount of plant aroma of IHEEB, successfully eliminating the concerns of early scholars about low palatability and showing that cows can quickly adapt and accept the new unconventional feed ( 13 ). Although there were individual differences in dietary intake among the three groups, there did not seem to be much effect on the digestive properties of the diet, indicating that according to the total-tract apparent digestibility, IHEEB can be well-digested and absorbed by the intestinal tract of dairy cows.…”

“…Growing legalization and demand are anticipated to increase the global production of hemp and its byproducts ( 10 ). Currently, the research on industrial hemp and its processing byproducts mainly focus on the application of seed and hemp seed cake in livestock and poultry, which is considered to have a good application prospect ( 11 – 13 ). However, the application of industrial hemp ethanol extraction byproducts in dairy cows has not been studied.…”

History, Constraints of Hemp and Future Prospect as A Potential Livestock Feed an Bangladesh

“…This research suggests that endocannabinoids have the potential to improve dairy health and productivity by modulating feed intake, energy metabolism, and stress response in cows. Parker et al (2022) carried out an assessment of spent hemp biomass (SHB) as a potential ingredient in ruminant diet and mentioned that feeding SHB does not induce inflammation or affect the immune system, but it may have effects on metabolism, kidney function, and bone metabolism. It was found that feeding of SHB to lamb can have positive effects such as improved antioxidative status and better digestibility of the diet.…”

Chemical Characterization of 29 Industrial Hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) Varieties

“…CBD is the main non-psycotrophyc cannabinoid, while THC is the only psychoactive component in hemp. Even though industrial hemp has less than 0.2% of THC [5], this is a critical consideration for both consumers and industries because of the potential accumulation of THC in animal tissues and its effect on animal health, production, and food product quality [6,7]. In fact, it has been proved that cannabinoids of hemp by-products can transfer into milk when they are included in dairy cows' diet [8,9].…”