The USA’s Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC) is celebrating what it says is significant progress on obtaining federal approval for the use of hemp grain products in animal feed.
Among the many agricultural uses for hemp is hemp seed meal (HSM), the byproduct of cold pressing hemp seed oil for human consumption. While a waste product, it retains a significant quantity of protein and other important nutritional elements – and stock animals such as sheep, cows and hens seem to like it.
But in most US states HSM isn’t approved as a stock feed yet at a federal level – yet. But that may be about to change for some applications.
At the recent Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Mid-Year Meeting, hemp seed meal received tentative approval for laying hens. With the FDA-Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (FDA-CVM’s) recommendation for approval receiving no opposition, it bodes well for AAFCO’s Board and members to provide final approval. If that occurs, its will be adopted into the Official Publication later this year.
“This historic milestone has been more than three years in the making and will allow processors to formulate with HSM in the diets of laying hens as a source of protein and fat at an inclusion of no more than 20%,” states the HFC.
Furthermore, the meal will contain no more than 20 parts per million (ppm) of total cannabidiol (Total CBD = CBD + (CBDA x 0.877)) and no more than 2 ppm of total tetrahydrocannabinol (Total THC = delta-9-THC + (THCA x 0.877)); both miniscule amounts.
The HFC says evidence indicates incorporating HSM can provide significant improvement in egg quality.
“Notably, hemp-fed hens lay eggs enriched with essential fatty acids such as ALA, DHA, and GLA, and increased amounts of Lutein which are known promotors for human health.”
But importantly, and addressing concerns to date that have prevented it from getting the thumbs-up from regulators, FDA-CVM’s evaluation of hemp seed meal found that HSM is a safe and viable protein and fat source, and any potential cannabinoid contaminants did not transfer over to human food products.
“Safe, nutritious alternatives like HSM improve efficiencies across US feed supply chains,” states the Coalition. “Feed mills and formulators have eagerly awaited this approval, having recognized the potential of hemp feed products long ago. HFC looks forward to collaborating with feed producers to incorporate HSM as a viable solution to their supply challenges.”
