The Center for Veterinary Medicine of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that hemp seed meal be used as an animal feed for egg laying hens. A trade group for the hemp industry announced this week that a group of feed control officials had tentatively approved its use.
According to a press release from the Hemp Feed Coalition, the ingredient definition committee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)–which oversees new feed approval–tentatively approved the action at a mid-year meeting on January 23.
AAFCO will then present the definition of hemp seed meals (HSMs) as acceptable sources of protein and fat for hens for final approval. It is expected to be officially adopted by AAFCO later this year. If approved, feed would have to contain less than 20 parts per millions (ppm) of total CBD and 2 ppm THC.
The Hemp Feed Coalition released a press release that stated, “This historic landmark has been in development for more than three-years and will enable processors to formulate HSM into the diets of laying chickens with an inclusion no higher than 20%.”
Morgan Tweet, Executive Director of the Hemp Feed Coalition said that the new definition is as follows:
New Proposed Definition T71.5 Hempseed Meal, Mechanically Extracted is a product that is obtained after the cake is ground or milled, and the remaining oil has been removed from Cannabis Sativa L. seeds by mechanical extraction. Ingredients must be labeled to guarantee minimum crude protein, maximum crude fat and as fed. The meal shall contain no more than 20 ppm of total cannabidiol (Total CBD = CBD + (CBDA x 0.877)) and no more than 2 ppm tetrahydrocannabidiol (Total THC = delta-9-THC + (THCA x 0.877)). Inclusion of up to 20% in the diet of laying chickens is allowed.
The AAFCO board could approve the definition and it would be published in full later this year. This is the final step of the complex process to allow hemp seed as a feed for commercial chickens.
The Hemp Feed Coalition released a statement citing research that showed hens fed diets with hemp seed meal had improved egg quality. They also produced eggs with higher levels certain fatty acids, and other nutrients important for human health.
The group also said that a wider use of hemp could improve soil quality, control disease and increase farming efficiency.
The integration of hemp into animal feed will lead to agricultural progress. This versatile crop offers farmers a way to diversify their crops with less risk, while also making supply chains more sustainable.
Since the federal legalization of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill there has been renewed interest in using the plant to provide nutrition, fiber, and even intoxicating cannabis cannabinoids. Some have viewed hemp seed meal for livestock as a viable option.
In November of last year, New York legislators sent Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), a Democratic legislator, introduced a bill which would have made hemp seed legal as a feed for horses, household pets, and llamas. However, the Governor ultimately rejected the measure citing the lack of safety data on the practice.
This topic has gained some attention from the research community.
In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to businesses that were marketing CBD products for animal use. The FDA warned that “there is a lack of data regarding what levels of residues can be safely consumed by humans who consume foods from animals that have been treated with CBD.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture found in April that cattle that are fed hempseed cakes retain very low levels of THC and CBD. This means that meat from these cows is safe to consume.
A 2022 federally-funded study found that giving cows hemp reduces their stress. Researchers have previously studied and how CBD effects pain and stress in horses.
According to a new study the use of cannabis by humans dates back thousands of years. The plant is used for fiber, nutrition and medicine as well as spirituality, pleasure, and enjoyment.
DEA Says Marijuana seeds are considered legal hemp as long as they don’t exceed THC limit
The post FDA’s Recommendation to Allow Hemp Seed Meal as Livestock Feed for Hens Wins First Approval first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
