In this episode, AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Mike Kleinhenz and Dr. Hans Coetzee to discuss the potential uses of industrial hemp in cattle. Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa)  contains many bioactive phytocannabinoids but is less than 0.3% THC which is the psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana. There is little research on the use of cannabis in cattle and today we discuss recent research published by Kleinhenz and Coetzee which was funded by the UDSA. The first study investigated the pharmacokinetics of cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) when fed to cattle at a specific dose. The results of this study demonstrated that CBDa was absorbed from the rumen and had a half-life of 14 hours. This research could be used to establish a withdrawal interval for cattle fed industrial hemp. We also discuss another study that evaluated lying behavior and biomarkers of stress and inflammation after feeding industrial hemp for 14 days. The results of this study demonstrated a significant difference in lying time, reduction in cortisol and a reduction in prostaglandin-E. These results indicate that industrial hemp may be useful as a treatment during times of stress, such as weaning, transportation, calving or arrival to feedyards. The last study discussed investigated the nutrient composition of industrial hemp and the various parts of the plant. This study demonstrated that industrial hemp and byproducts of the hemp industry may be useful as cattle feed, similar to other forages and byproducts we use to turn forages into high quality beef and dairy protein. Kleinhenz and Coetzee discuss that further research is needed in this area to evaluate the application of industrial hemp in cattle production systems. 

Publications: 

Kleinhenz, M.D., Magnin, G., Lin, Z. et al. Plasma concentrations of eleven cannabinoids in cattle following oral administration of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa). Sci Rep 10, 12753 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69768-4 

Kleinhenz, M.D., Weeder, M., Montgomery, S. et al. Short term feeding of industrial hemp with a high cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) content increases lying behavior and reduces biomarkers of stress and inflammation in Holstein steers. Sci Rep 12, 3683 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07795-z 

Michael D. Kleinhenz, Geraldine Magnin, Stee M. Ensley, Jason J. Griffin, John Goeser, Eva Lynch, Johann F. Coetzee, Nutrient concentrations, digestibility, and cannabinoid concentrations of industrial hemp plant components, Applied Animal Science, Volume 36, Issue 4, 2020, Pages 489-494, ISSN 2590-2865, https://doi.org/10.15232/aas.2020-02018