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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Food Animal Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #383439
Research Project: Detection and Fate of Environmental Chemical and Biological Residues and their Impact on the Food Supply

Location: Food Animal Metabolism Research

Title: Evaluation of hempseed cake on cattle performance, carcass characteristics and feeding behavior in finishing diets

Author
item WINDERS, THOMAS - North Dakota State University
item Serum, Eric
item Smith, David
item NEVILLE, B - North Dakota State University
item MIA, M G - North Dakota State University
item AMAT, S - North Dakota State University
item DAHLEN, C - North Dakota State University
item SWANSON, KENDALL - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Proceeding of Plains Nutrition Council Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2021
Publication Date: 4/30/2021
Citation: Winders, T.M., Serum, E.M., Smith, D.J., Neville, B.W., Mia, M.K., Amat, S., Dahlen, C.R., Swanson, K.C. 2021. Evaluation of hempseed cake on cattle performance, carcass characteristics and feeding behavior in finishing diets. Proceeding of Plains Nutrition Council Symposium. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As cannabinoid production continues to increase, there is increasing interest in feeding byproducts of industrial hemp production to livestock. One main byproduct of hempseed oil production is hempseed cake, which is high in protein (33% CP) and fiber (50% NDF). While it is not currently an approved feedstuff in the US, exploring its effects on cattle production is of interest if it were to be approved. An experiment using crossbred heifers (n = 31; initial BW= 1,091 lb, SEM = 23) was conducted to determine the effects of feeding hempseed cake in a corn-based finishing diet (10% forage) formulated to meet or exceed ruminally degradable and metabolizable protein requirements on growth, performance, carcass characteristics, and feeding behavior. Heifers were assigned randomly to one of two treatments, either a diet containing 20% dried distillers grains plus solubles (CON, n=16) or 20% hempseed cake (HEMP, n=15) on a dry-matter basis. Cattle were housed in two pens, had ad-libitum access to feed and water, and individual intakes and feeding behavior were captured using the Insentec BV feeding system. Body weights were collected every two weeks over the 111-d feeding period, and cattle were slaughtered on 5 days across a 9-day period (d112 – 120) to determine withdrawal effects of hempseed cake (data will be reported elsewhere). Final BW was not different (P = 0.28) between CON (1,534 lb, SE = 27) and HEMP (1,504 lb, SE = 27) heifers. Dry matter intake was not different between treatments (P = 0.99), while CON cattle had greater ADG and feed conversion (F:G; P = 0.04) compared to HEMP cattle. Carcass characteristics were not different (P = 0.20) between treatments for all of the parameters measured (HCW, LM area, backfat, dress, marbling, yield grade). Control and HEMP cattle were not different (P = 0.34) for number of meals, time spent eating, number of visits to the bunk per day, meal size, or eating rate. In this experiment, feeding hempseed cake reduced ADG and F:G while having no effect on other performance measures, carcass characteristics, or feeding behavior. Overall, these data suggest hempseed cake could be a viable alternative feed source for ruminants depending on availability and cost. Further understanding of hempseed cake’s impact on performance is critical to determining this products viability as a feedstuff for cattle. In vivo digestibility of the hempseed cake needs to be evaluated to determine why certain performance parameters were reduced while others were not impacted.