April 5, 2022

 

Research finds cattle fed with hemp reduces their stress levels

 

 

Kansas State University research on Holsteins found that mixing their livestock feed with industrial hemp results in reduced stress levels for the cows, which could be beneficial to farmers as relaxed cattle are usually healthier, KOSU reported.

 

The study led by Mike Kleinhenz, Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine assistant professor of beef production medicine was published in Scientific Reports.

 

For this research, eight cattle ate normal livestock feed and another eight consumed a mixture of feed with industrial hemp, a cannabis variety with the CBD chemical compound and low levels of the THC psychoactive component. CBD is a remedy for pain and anxiety.

 

The animal's movements were tracked and their blood was monitored for stress biomarkers such as cortisol and prostaglandins. The cattle that consumed the hemp mixture had lower stress hormone levels and laid down more.

 

Kleinhenz said the cattle absorbed the hemp but did not accumulate in the animal's systems.

 

Relaxed cattle could be beneficial to farmers where they need to be weaned or transported to feedlots where the stress of close-quarters confinement results in to respiratory infections or other diseases.

 

An approval from the US Food and Drug Administration approval would be need before hemp is permited to be fed to livestock or pets.

The research was funded by a US$200,000 US Department of Agriculture grant to look into the safety of industrial hemp as cattle feed.

 

Industrial hemp is the byproduct of extracting oil from hemp seeds or flowers. Kleinhenz said if it can be utilised as livestock feed, it would benefit farmers and reduce landfill waste.

 

Further studies will look into how cattle absorbs the CBD compounds and its potential effect on the final food product.

 

-      KOSU