217 Acceptability of Hempseed Meal in Horses

Abstract

Abstract Congress passed US Farm Bills legalizing hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), after which hemp-farming increased, resulting in an abundance of hemp by-products, like hempseed meal (HSM). As such, HSM must be evaluated as a potential animal feedstuff. A study was designed to evaluate the acceptability of HSM over time in horses, using 6 stock-type geldings (11.5 ± 3.4yr, 539.6 ± 31.9kg, BCS 6). Horses were offered 1 kg of HSM pellets over two 5-min periods, 1 h apart each day, and offered 1 kg of Coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay between offerings. Horses remained on a commercial ration during a 1-d feeding-pattern acclimation prior to the 6-d trial. Data (mean ± SEM) were analyzed using a Repeated Measures ANOVA within R Statistical Program. One horse was removed from the study due to complete diet refusal. Intake of HSM on d1 (0.287 ± 0.081kg; P = 0.062), d2 (0.378 ± 0.084kg; P = 0.07), and d3 (0.446 ± 0.087; P = 0.077) tended to be lower than d5 (0.695 ± 0.071 kg). Similarly, d1 (P = 0.043), d2 (P = 0.036), and d3 (P = 0.048) were less than d6 (0.652 ± 0.064 kg). Day 4 (0.530 ± 0.09 kg) tended to be less than d5 (P = 0.09), but there was no difference between d5 and d6 (P = 0.73). Hay consumption was greater on d1 (0.702 ± 0.026kg; P = 0.003) and d2 (0.723 ± 0.041kg; p = 0.001) than d6 (0.410 ± 0.051kg). Hay consumption and HSM intake were not correlated (R2 = 0.001), but the proportions of HSM consumed between feedings were highly correlated (R2 = 0.947), increasing at 0.4 of Feeding 1. These findings indicate that HSM consumption increases after 4 days of exposure but is not impacted by hay consumption.