Abstract
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hempseed cake on production traits, metabolic profile and antioxidant status of lambs. The research was conducted on 20 Merinolandschaf lambs of similar live body weight (24.03 kg ± 2.22 and 24.06 ± 1.84 kg in control and experimental group, respectively). The experiment started after the weaning of lambs at their average age of 70 days. Lambs were divided by gender (50% male: 50% female) and then allocated in two groups. The research lasted for 30 days during the fattening period. Lambs in the control group were fed with feed mixtures, where main protein source was soybean meal and extruded soybean (SB), while lambs in the experimental group were fed feed mixtures in which soybean was replaced by hempseed cake (HSC) at 12% of dry matter. Higher values of daily weight gain (P<0.05) compared to SB lambs were observed from days 15 to 30. HSC lambs showed no significant differences in hematology and biochemical blood parameters, except for lower (P<0.001) urea concentrations on days 15 and 30, as well as higher (P<0.05) Mg concentrations in serum on day 30. Hempseed cake in lambs’ diets did not influence (P>0.05) activity of the enzymes like AST, ALT, ALP, GGT and CK, as well as SOD and GPx enzymes, thus not affecting the antioxidant status of lambs’ blood. Concentrations of DHA and n-3 fatty acids were higher (P<0.05) in HSC group than in SB group. The present study confirmed that the inclusion of HSC as soybean replacement up to 12% in the lambs’ diet is justified when considering production traits, metabolic profile and antioxidant status of Merinolandschaf lambs.
Highlights
The present study confirmed that the inclusion of hempseed cake (HSC) as soybean replacement up to 12% in the lambs’ diet is justified when considering production traits, metabolic profile and antioxidant status of Merinolandschaf lambs
Analysis of exterior and production traits of HSC and SB group of lambs showed almost no significant differences, HSC group had higher values of daily weight gain (P
Hempseed cake in lambs’ diets did not influence activity of the enzymes like AST, GGT, ALT, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatine kinase (CK), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes compared to SB (Table 7)
Summary
Hempseed cake is a by-product of oil extraction from hemp seed and it is rich in high-quality storage proteins (Wang and Xiong, 2019). Hemp seeds and hempseed cake contain tocopherols, especially γ-tocopherol (60.85 and 33.72 mg/100 g DM, respectively), which increase oxidative stability of sheep milk (Mierlita, 2018). Klir et al (2019) indicated the possibility of using hempseed cake in animal diets without causing major changes in production and possible increase of desirable fatty acids in animal products. There are numerous studies on the use of hempseed cake as a substitute for soybean in ruminant diets and on its impact on milk quantity and quality, with particular emphasis on the fatty acid profile in cow and sheep milk (Karlsson et al, 2010; Mierlita, 2016, 2018) and in meat (Hessle et al, 2008; Turner et al, 2008, 2012; Karlsson and Martinson, 2011). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hempseed cake on production characteristics, metabolic profile and antioxidant status of lambs
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