Hemp in feed troughs – no need to worry about THC in dairy products
Where hemp in animal feed is concerned, there are often still many question marks. Particularly persistent are fears that cannabinoids such as THC could enter our food chain via milk or meat, for example. A recent study has addressed these fears and examined the actual circumstances.
When it comes to hemp in animal feed, there are often still many question marks. Fears that cannabinoids such as THC could enter our food chain via milk or meat are particularly persistent. A recent study from the USA now provides exciting findings – and good news.
Luisa P.
What exactly was investigated?
Researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) fed dairy cows spent hemp biomass – the plant residue left over after CBD extraction – for several weeks. This by-product is produced in large quantities and could be a sustainable addition to feed.
The study divided the cows into two groups:
- Group 1 was fed feed containing 13% hemp biomass for 28 days.
- Group 2 received 13% alfalfa pellets as a comparison.
Afterwards, all animals were switched to a normal diet, and the researchers tracked how long cannabinoids remained detectable in the body.
The result: all clear for milk and meat
The evaluation shows that cows do absorb cannabinoids when they eat hemp biomass – but these substances disappear completely from the organism. After just 15 days without hemp in their feed, no traces of THC or CBD were detectable in the milk or tissue.
Luisa P.
For us, this means that anyone who consumes milk or meat from such cows does not need to worry about unwanted THC. Study leader Dr Massimo Bionaz also confirmed that a two-week break from hemp feed is sufficient to rule out any risk.
Opportunities for sustainable agriculture
This finding is very valuable, as hemp has the potential to make agriculture more diverse and sustainable. Instead of leaving hemp residues unused after CBD production, they could be used as animal feed – regionally, resource-efficiently and sensibly.
Official approval of hemp by-products as animal feed is still pending in the USA (and also here in Europe). However, studies such as this provide exactly the data needed for approval. And they tie in with earlier findings by OSU and other researchers, who also confirm that hemp seeds or hemp meal are a safe source of feed.