Hemp seed meal formally approved for US laying hens
The decision by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) clears the way for sales of the first hemp-based feed ingredient in the U.S.
August 9, 2024
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After three years of deliberation, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) voted on August 7 to approve the feeding of hemp seed meal to laying hens.
Hemp seed meal, under the definition approved by AAFCO, is obtained by milling the hemp seed cake that remains after the oil is removed from hemp seeds for use in other products. The meal must contain no more than 20 parts per million of cannabidiol or CBD, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated is of pharmaceutical interest, and no more than 2 parts per million of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the compound typically associated with the intoxicating effects of cannabis. The meal may be used in laying hen diets as a source of protein and fat at an inclusion level no greater than 20%, according to AAFCO.
Hemp seed meal can offer a variety of health benefits for laying hens and may improve egg quality, according to the Hemp Feed Coalition, the industry collaboration that initially brought the hemp seed meal application before AAFCO. Hens fed hemp seed meal lay eggs enriched with the essential fatty acids ALA, DHA and GLA. The meal also contains a complete amino acid profile, including all nine essential amino acids, according to the Hemp Feed Coalition.
“This groundbreaking federal approval of a hemp feed ingredient is a major moment for the hemp industry as well as the health of our animals,” the coalition said in a statement issued after the approval. “Hemp seed meal offers incredible nutrition benefits, and its approval opens the floodgates for the use of hemp grain.”
Morgan Tweet, executive director of the Hemp Feed Coalition, said in February that the coalition sees the approval of hemp seed meal for use in ruminant and broiler diets as the next logical step for its advocacy. The coalition does not intend to pursue any applications related to CBD or hemp biomass — the spent byproducts associated with CBD production — amid concerns that the FDA intends to regulate CBD as a pharmaceutical drug.
While the approval formally opens the door for commercial sales of hemp seed meal for use in animal feed, industry experts say it will be some time before the ingredient achieves commercial scale. Hemp production has declined alongside falling prices since 2021.
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