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The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is gathering information about the safety and efficacy of hemp and its derivatives as potential animal feedstuffs. Yearling rough-stock bulls (n = 38) were used in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the effects of hempseed meal (HSM) as a concentrate ingredient on growth, dry matter intake (DMI), and efficiency. Bulls were blocked by body weight (BW), grouped into 10 pens (n = 3 or 4 bulls/pen), and randomly assigned to hempseed meal (HSM) or a control supplement treatment (CON; 72.5% cottonseed meal, 14.5% soy hulls, and 13% fat). Ingredients for CON were used because they were common commercial commodities and were formulated to match the macronutrients of HSM. Treatments were top-dressed at 10% of the diet, while 90% was fed as a mixed ration [50% bermudagrass hay, 40% textured commercial feed (10% CP)]. Feed delivery, treatment delivery, and orts were recorded daily. Diet samples were dried and used to calculate dry matter intake (DMI). Blood for urea-N (SUN; VetScan Chemistry Analyzer) and BW were obtained on days 0, 21, 42, and 63. Efficiency was evaluated for each period using DMI and average daily gain (ADG). Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4. Results were considered significant at P < 0.05, and tendencies were discussed at 0.05 > P > 0.10. No treatment×time interaction occurred for BW (P = 0.999), ADG (P = 0.563), interim DMI (P = 0.672), feed efficiency (P = 0.254), or SUN (P = 0.170). Treatment did not affect BW (320.4 and 324.69 ± 121.57 kg for CON and HSM, respectively, P = 0.996), but BW increased over time (261.13 ± 74.71 and 322.5 ± 121.57 kg, initial and final BW, respectively, P = 0.001). No treatment effect on ADG occurred (0.73 and 0.84 ± 0.13 kg for CON and HSM, respectively, P = 0.680). However, ADG decreased over time (1.0 ± 0.29, 1.19 ± 0.21 and 0.79 ± 0.13 kg, d0-21, d21-42, and d42-63, respectively, P = 0.005). Daily DMI resulted in a treatment×time interaction, where HSM often consumed more DM than CON (P < 0.01). Interim DMI increased over time (7.44 ± 1.25, 7.84 ± 0.98, and 8.18 ± 0.82 kg, d0-21, d21-42, and d42-63, respectively, P = 0.0073), but when combined with ADG to determine feed efficiency, the main effects were not different (P = 0.17). Over time, SUN increased (4.91, 10.52, 11.66 and 12.72 ± 0.35 mg/dL for days 0, 21, 42 and 63, respectively, P < 0.001), and HSM had greater SUN than CON (10.46 and 9.45 ± 0.30 mg/dL for HSM and CON, respectively, P = 0.0426). These data suggest that bulls fed HSM at 10% diet DM perform similarly to bulls fed the same nutrient profile of standard commercial feed ingredients, indicating comparable nutrient availability between the treatments. Conversely, increased DMI and SUN in the HSM bulls suggest a difference in nitrogen metabolism between the treatments that warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become a popular product in the recent months due to change in legislation with the passing of the Agricultural Improvement Act in 2018. Cannabidiol comes from the plant Cannabis sativa L. and binds to cannabinoid receptors throughout the endocannabinoid system. These receptors are located throughout the body and are prominent in the brain and reproduction tract. Although the effects of CBD on physiology have been researched, little data on the behavioral effects exist, even less so in horses. Calming supplements that may negate aggressive stallion behavior are not suitable due to potential soporific effects that can affect libido. In addition to the effectiveness of CBD to modify behavior in horses, it is also unclear if CBD influences stallion libido. The objective of this study was to evaluate sexual behavior in stallions given a daily CBD supplement for 70 days. Two-year old stallions (n = 8) were assigned to either a Control (CON; n = 3) or Cannabidiol (CBD; n = 4) treatment groups. Cannabidiol was administered at a rate of 0.6 mg/kg BW daily, and equal volume of olive oil was given as a placebo to CON. Horses were weighed every Monday at which time dosages were recalculated to adjust for body weight changes. Behavior data collection occurred twice per week during semen collections. Video data were recorded by placing two cameras, one placed in view of the tease area, and one placed in view of the mount, for behavior data backup. Behavioral data was tallied by handlers calmly calling each behavior as it occurred during collection. The behaviors collected included Flehman's response, bites, strikes, mounts, high pitch vocalizations, and low pitch vocalizations. Data were analyzed using a Chi Square Test within R Statistical Program (R Core Team). Results were considered significant at P < 0.05. Throughout the duration of the study, all stallions exhibited normal sexual behavior, regardless of treatment. Results showed that total low and high pitch vocalizations, bites, and Flehman's were affected by treatment (P < 0.01). Cannabidiol-treated stallions had more low pitches (60), compared to CON (58). Cannabidioltreated stallions had fewer bites (145) compared to the CON (146). Cannibidiol stallions displayed Flehman's more frequently (270) than CON (236). Flehman's response and bites were lower for stallions on cannabidiol in Week 1 but increased by Week 10 (P < 0.01), while only Flehman's response increased in the CON group over time (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that CBD may influence breeding behavior in young stallions specifically when supplemented over time. Further research should focus on the impact of CBD on breeding behaviors in mature stallions and the longevity of the behavioral response to CBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the 2014 and 2018 US Farm Bills legalized hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), increased farming created an abundance of hemp by-products. Hempseed meal (HSM) is a by-product of hempseed oil extraction. With increasing availability, hemp must be evaluated as a potential feedstuff for sustainable livestock systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the palatability of HSM as an equine feedstuff. The study used a modified 3x3 Latin Square design utilizing 3 mature geldings (G; 7.3 ± 2.5 yr) and 3 mature mares (M; 12.5 ± 6.5 yr) blocked by sex. Basal feed consumption and bucket preference was established during a washout period of 2 feedings/d over 3 days before each period. During each treatment period (3d) horses were offered either 500g of soybean meal pellets (SBM), rice bran pellets (RBP), or beet pulp pellets (BPP) in one bucket and 500g of HSM in a second bucket each feeding. Feed treatments were switched between bucket positions each feeding. Findings are presented as mean ± SEM. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA within R Statistical Program©. The study found that HSM consumption (351.2 ± 30.6g) did not differ with treatment (p = 0.63), bucket (p = 0.94), or sex (p = 0.67). HSM consumption was greater than SBM (237.7 ± 34.8g; p = 0.005) and BPP (37.0 ± 9.3g; p< 0.001) but was not different from RBP (299.1 ± 35.2g; p = 0.19). HSM consumption increased with each subsequent period (Period 1: 229.6 ± 33.4g; Period 2: 381.3 ± 27.1g; Period 3: 442.6 ± 17.2; p < 0.001). These findings indicate that HSM may be more palatable than SBM and BPP but similar to RBP. HSM consumption may continue to increase over time. HSM may serve as an acceptable replacement to more common feedstuffs used in equine rations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congress passed US Farm Bills legalizing hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), after which hempfarming 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 stocktype 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using cannabidiol (CBD) in animals has increased since the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act was passed. Previous work in laboratory animals suggests supplementation with CBD reduced anxiety, compulsive behaviors, and brain activity of limbic and paralimbic areas. Horses exhibit anxiety due to training or housing situations, which is sometimes expressed via stereotypic behaviors including cribbing, aggression, etc. These behaviors can indicate underlying stressors and sometimes causes impairment; therefore, supplementing CBD may reduce undesirable behaviors in horses, consequently improving the health and overall welfare. The study objective was to determine if a single oral dose of CBD would result in adverse effects in horses. Four mature mares and four mature geldings were used in a randomized-control treatment design. Horses typically housed in paddocks, but not novel to stalling were housed in 11' X 14' stalls with cameras to record behavior, feed, and water intake. Horses were acclimated to feeding methods and stall environment for one week. Behavior was recorded for 24hr after a dosage of olive oil was administered as a control (CON). Horses were returned to their paddock for one week, then randomly assigned to either a LOW (0.3mg/kg BW; n = 4) or HIGH (0.6 mg/kg BW; n = 4) treatment of CBD oil. After oral dosing, horses were stalled for observation. Stereotypic behaviors such as pawing, cribbing, and aggression were quantified using the Observer XTTM program. Observations were analyzed in R Studio© for analysis of variance (ANOVA). The occurrence of stereotypic behaviors was lower (P = 0.03) in horses given oral CBD. Actions occurred more frequently during feeding sessions, behaviors including aggression and pawing occurred less when horses were given the High dose compared to Control (113 to 26 and 69 to 27) respectively. Based on results, oral administration of the particular cannabidiol product used in this study may mediate negative behaviors in stalled horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]