Hemp seed may be used for animal feed

The nutritional benefits of hemp seed in human food products can be effectively applied to livestock feed, according to researchers from the University of Manitoba.

Hemp products are not currently approved for use in any class of livestock diet but hemp-based products are widely used in human nutrition.

To generate data to support the registration of hemp products in livestock rations researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of hemp seed as a feed ingredient in poultry diets.

Dr Jim House, the head of the University of Manitoba's Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, said studies have shown hemp protein to be highly digestible and that should carry over to most major classes of livestock.

House said they are currently looking at three different classes of hemp products – the hemp seed, hemp oil, and the hemp meal or the protein concentrate.

He said they are looking at conducting production trials with poultry and any collected data will help generate evidence in support of the use of hemp in livestock diets, especially poultry feed. 

Another unique aspect is that hemp has a significant amount of omega-3, in particular the alpha-Linolenic acid.