No abstract

Hemp seed and hemp seed products such as hemp seed cake (HSC) have been shown to increase unsaturated fatty acid (FA) profile in eggs, including linoleic acid, and α-linolenic fatty acids known to increase egg weight and better human health respectively. However, the use of hemp products in animal feed is still a concern due to the potential residues of the Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive substance present in the hemp plant. No significant published research is available on the effect of dietary HSC on fatty acids profile and cannabinoids residues in organs and tissues of laying hens. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of dietary HSC on the level of fatty acids composition, and cannabinoid transfer in eggs, as well as internal organs and tissues of laying hens. Eight hundred caged Bovans white hens in at 30 weeks of age were distributed into 4 treatments of 200 hens per treatment based on inclusion levels of hemp seed cake (HSC) at 0, 10, 20 and 30% levels of inclusion. Each treatment group comprised of 8 cages of 25 hens each that served as replicates. The observations per protocol were made over a timeline of 16 weeks following that precedes a 3-week acclimation phase. HSC feeding to commercial laying hens increased (P<0.05) the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic and linolenic acids in eggs and abdominal fat. The cannabinoids residues in eggs, blood, breast meat, body fat, liver, kidneys and spleen were below the detectable level. The results of this study confirm that HSC fed to laying hens increased deposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, but did not contribute THC or cannabinoid residues in eggs, internal organs or body tissues.

Although the nutrient composition of hemp products provides evidence that these potentially serve as valuable livestock feed ingredients and may enhance human health, the cultivation of hemp was prohibited due to the high content of the Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Recently, regulatory changes by several countries allowed the cultivation of industry hemp under a license that permits plants and plant parts of the genera Cannabis with a THC lower than 0.3%. The concern of a higher THC value still remains; thus, it is justified to test the nutritional and safety properties of Hemp Seed Cake (HSC) in animal feed. The objectives of this study were to determine the nutritional (proximate principles, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids), and safety properties (mycotoxin, heavy metals and cannabinoid profiles) of HSC and feed manufactured with the ingredient for use in animal feed. Three replicate samples of HSC and two replicate samples of each feed manufactured with 0, 10%, 20 and 30% of HSC were analyzed by reference laboratories for parameters identified under study objectives. The results of the nutritional values were consistent with published results. Similarly, the safety parameters were below the detectable levels and maximum legal levels. The results of this study confirm that HSC can safely be used as animal feed ingredient.

No abstract

The cultivation of hemp was prohibited due to its high content of the psychoactive substance Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Regulatory changes from several countries allow the cultivation of hemp that permits plants and plant parts with less than 0.3% Δ-9 THC. The concern of the levels of THC still remains; therefore, testing hemp seed cake (HSC) contributes new information about the effect of this ingredient on livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of HSC on feed intake, body weight (BW), egg production, eggs per hen housed (EHH), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and livability of laying hens. Eight hundred 30-week old laying hens were randomly distributed and fed four treatments for 19 weeks, no HSC (C0), 10% (H10), 20% (H20) and 30% (H30) of HSC replicated 8 times with 25 hens per replicate. Feed intake was not affected by the HSC supplementation. BWs were reduced across all treatments with significant lower impact on the HSC treatments, egg production, EHH and FCR were not consistently affected by HSC supplementation. The livability was within the normal range for the breed. The results of this study confirm that HSC supplementation in feed does not affect the performance of laying hens.