Cold-pressed hempseed cake as a protein feed for growing cattle

Abstract

Cold-pressed hempseed cake was investigated as a protein feed for young calves and finishing steers. Half of the animals were fed cold-pressed hempseed cake, whereas the other half were fed a mixture of soybean meal and barley. Effects on feed intake, liveweight gain (LWG), faecal traits and carcass traits (steers only) were studied. Neutral detergent fibre intake was higher for animals fed hempseed cake than for those fed soybean meal (P<0.05). In addition, the number of long particles in faeces was lower (P<0.05) and faecal dry matter content and consistency were higher from animals which were fed hempseed cake (P<0.05; steers only). Higher feed intakes in calves fed hempseed cake (P<0.05) combined with similar LWG resulted in lower feed efficiency in hemp-fed calves (P<0.05). In conclusion, hempseed cake compared to soybean meal as a protein feed for intensively fed growing cattle results in similar production and improved rumen function.