The current interest in hemp is not limited to the medicinal use for humans, it is also gaining attention as a valuable feed ingredient for animals. For instance, the processing of whole hemp seed (HS) for the extraction of the oil can result in various feed materials for animals, including HS hulls, dehulled HS, HS oil, and HS cake/meal. However, currently, HS-derived products are not approved as feed ingredients in Canada, in part, because the safety and efficacy of these derivatives, like other jurisdictions, require certification by regulatory bodies for their use in animal feeds. In this context, this document reviews previous studies testing the application of hemp-derived products in various animal feeds, including poultry, swine, ruminants, as well as in aquaculture production to support their safety and efficacy. Furthermore, the document attempts to review available data on the transfer of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; the psychoactive component) into animal products. Hence, the aim of this work is to support future policy directions and guidelines for the application of various hemp-derived products in animal feeds.

Increasing sow milk yield is essential to achieve maximal growth of suckling piglets, and nutrition can stimulate milking capacity. From 90 days of age until puberty, replacement gilts should not undergo major feed restriction as it will inhibit mammary development. Providing phytoestrogens in that period will stimulate mammary hyperplasia. During gestation, feed intake of gilts must ensure that backfat at the end of gestation is above 16 mm to support mammary development. In the last third of gestation, providing 40% more lysine than requirements via the addition of soybean meal increases mammary mass in gilts, but not in multiparous sows. A high nutrient intake during transition is crucial, whereby providing sows 12.6 Mcal metabolizable energy and 22.0 g standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys daily ensures a high colostrum production and maximizes milk yield in the following lactation. During lactation, there are quadratic effects of energy and protein intakes on the weight of suckled mammary glands and sows should not be restricted-fed to avoid excessive mobilization of body reserves. Furthermore, the provision of adequate lysine is critical to maximize litter growth, with optimum daily intakes between 47.7 and 51.3 g SID Lys for primiparous sows and 51.3–67.2 g SID Lys for multiparous sows.

Lameness is the second most prevalent morbidity in North American feedlot cattle and is both an animal welfare and economic concern. Lameness accounts for 30%–40% of all feedlot treatments with greater than 70% being foot-related lameness (FRL). This review focused on foot rot (FR), digital dermatitis (DD), and toe tip necrosis syndrome (TTNS). While there are significant study-to-study differences regarding the prevalence of FR, DD, and TTNS, it is unequivocal that FR is the most prevalent. Poor pen conditions are risk factors for both FR and DD, but the epidemiology of the two diseases is quite different. Whereas FR is diagnosed throughout the feeding period, DD typically occurs after 80 days on feed (DOF). TTNS is the least prevalent of the three FRL, but has the greatest negative effect on animal welfare and production performance. Most TTNS cases occur within 50 DOF with treatment failure leading to a significant loss in production performance and even death. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology of lameness in feedlot cattle with emphasis on the prevalence and risk factors associated with FR, DD, and TTNS.

A total of 288 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments: (1) Control (CON; corn–wheat–soybean-based diet), (2) CON + 0.05% bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD), (3) CON + 0.3% red osier dogwood extract (ROD), and (4) CON + 2.5% grape pomace (GP) and raised for 28 days. On days 21–27, birds were exposed to either a thermoneutral (TN; 24 ± 1 °C) or heat stress (HS; 32–34 °C for 8 h/day) environment. On day 28, 12 male birds per treatment/temperature group were euthanized for measuring blood and intestinal health parameters. 0.05% BMD and 0.3% ROD inclusion improved (P ≤ 0.05) the average body weight gain and feed conversion ratio, compared to CON. HS reduced (P ≤ 0.05) average feed intake, bursa and spleen weights, plasma alanine transferase, lipase, and creatinine kinase but increased (P ≤ 0.05) alanine phosphatase and serum immunoglobulins compared to TN birds. HS further reduced (P ≤ 0.05) duodenal villus height (VH):crypt depth (CD), jejunal VH, and VH:CD but this was reversed by ROD and GP, and 0.05% BMD and 2.5% GP increased (P < 0.001) the relative abundance of Blautia and Sellimonas compared to the CON diet. ROD increased (P = 0.010) the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium compared to the BMD diet. The results suggest that 0.3% ROD extract may function as an alternative to antibiotics in improving broiler growth performance and intestinal health.

We previously reported that high levels (≥50%) of black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) reduced growth and altered organs morphology in broiler chickens. Herein we further examined gastrointestinal, breast, bone, plasma, and litter attributes in broiler chickens fed partial to complete replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with BSFLM. A total of 1152 day-old Ross × Ross 708 male chicks (n = 8) were allocated to 48 pens and assigned one of six diets: a basal corn-SBM diet (0BSFLM), four diets in which SBM in 0BSFLM was replaced with BSFLM at 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100% (12.5BSFLM, 25BSFLM, 50BSFLM, and 100BSFLM) and a final diet (0 + AGP) in which 0BSFLM was fed with coccidiostat and antibiotic. Birds were bled for plasma and necropsied for samples. Litter samples were collected on days 45 to 47. Breast weight, woody breast, and hardness scores and tibia morphometry reduced linearly in response to BSFLM inclusion (P < 0.001). BSFLM linearly increased plasma Lys, Met, Thr, uric acid, creatine kinase and decreased Arg and potassium (P < 0.05). Litter ammonium nitrogen and potassium decreased linearly in response to BSFLM (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the data suggested physiological and metabolic inefficiencies in broiler chickens fed isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with ≥50% BSFLM replacement of SBM.

Plasma and tibia attributes were investigated in broiler chickens raised on three gut health management programs in commercial farms (study 1) and research station settings (study 2). The programs were as follows: (1) conventional antibiotics (CON), (2) raised without medically important antimicrobials (RWMIA), and (3) raised without antibiotics (RWA). Birds had free access to feed and water from placement to harvest; samples of blood and left tibia were collected on day 28 in both studies and further samples were taken on day 41 in study 2. In both studies, there were no program differences (P > 0.05) on plasma metabolites with exception of enzyme concentrations with notably higher levels of circulating plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in birds reared on the RWA program (P ≤ 0.04). Differences were observed among programs for tibia length in both studies (P < 0.05). Birds reared on RWMIA exhibited significantly (P = 0.016) higher tibia ash than CON on day 41. Observed differences in the plasma enzyme concentrations, tibia length, and ash concentration suggest altered metabolism which could be linked to gut health management programs and their ability to support gut integrity and function in the absence of antibiotics.

This study evaluated production traits, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), and fecal microbiota composition in finishing boars (n = 207) selected for feed efficiency (FE; low = LFE; high = HFE) based on estimated breeding value for feed conversion ratio (FCR) within a Large White dam and sire genetic lines. Also, the association between gut microbiota with production and digestibility traits was investigated. Regardless of the genetic line, HFE pigs presented low FCR (P < 0.05), had thinner back fat (P < 0.05) and had greater loin depth (P < 0.05) than LFE pigs. Also, HFE pigs had a significantly higher ATTD for Ca and a tendency for a higher crude protein (P = 0.06) and phosphorous (P = 0.10) ATTD than LFE pigs. No significant differences in alpha- and beta-diversity measurements for fecal microbiota were seen between FE groups in each genetic line. The genera Lactobacillus and Prevotella were associated (P < 0.01) with some growth performance (e.g., feed intake), carcass traits (e.g., backfat thickness), and nutrient digestibility (e.g., Ca). In conclusion, HFE pigs had favourable production traits and higher digestibility of key nutrients than LFE pigs; however, the bacterial genera were associated with phenotypic traits but not by genetic merit.

Forty meat or dairy kids were blocked within breed according to body weight. Kids within each block were then randomly allotted to a concentrate-based diet or an intensive rotational grazing system. Kids fed the concentrate-based diet were offered hay ad libitum and fixed amounts of whole corn and soybean meal to meet the requirements for maintenance and daily gain. Grazing kids from each breed were stocked in groups and offered a new paddock every day. Dry matter intake was not different between breeds. Meat kids had a greater average daily gain than dairy kids, but feeding treatments did not affect the growth rate. Dairy kids had greater anterior cuts (neck and shoulder), whereas meat kids tended to have greater posterior cuts (loin and leg). Meat kids accumulated more fat when they were fed concentrate in comparison with pasture, whereas this variable tended to be less influenced by dietary treatments in dairy kids. Meat of pasture-fed kids had greater Warner–Bratzler shear force and glycolytic potential, and lower ultimate pH than meat of concentrate-fed kids. The n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio of intramuscular fat was almost 4-fold greater in concentrate- than pasture-fed kids; this ratio was 1.4-fold greater in dairy than meat kids.

Quarante chevreaux de boucherie (CB) ou laitiers (CL) ont été séparés en bloc au sein d'une même race selon leur poids. Les chevreaux de chaque bloc ont ensuite été répartis au hasard entre un régime à base de concentrés et un système de pâturage intensif. La consommation n'était pas différente entre les races. Le gain quotidien des CB était supérieur à celui des CL, mais les traitements alimentaires n'ont pas eu d'incidence sur le taux de croissance. Les CL avaient des proportions de coupes antérieures plus élevées, tandis que les CB avaient tendance à avoir des coupes postérieures plus importantes. Les CB ont accumulé plus de graisse lorsqu'ils ont été nourris avec des concentrés que lorsqu'ils ont été nourris au pâturage, alors que cette variable a eu tendance à être moins influencée par les traitements alimentaires chez les CL. La viande des chevreaux au pâturage présentait une force de cisaillement Warner-Bratzler et un potentiel glycolytique plus élevés, ainsi qu'un pH ultime plus faible. Le rapport des acides gras n-6/n-3 de la viande était presque 4 fois plus élevé chez les chevreaux recevant les concentrés; ce rapport était 1,4 fois plus élevé chez les CL que chez les CB. [Ceci est une traduction fournie par l'auteur du résumé en anglais.]

Whole-plant corn untreated (Control) or treated with an inoculant (Lentilactobacillus buchneri, Lentilactobacillus hilgardii, and Pediococcus pentosaceus, INO) was ensiled for 210 days in mini-silos at constant (MS-C) or variable temperature (MS-V) or for 220 days in bunkers. Bunker samples were collected at 50 (D50) and 150 (D150) cm below silo surface. Samples from MS-V and MS-C had similar pH and concentrations of lactic acid, propionic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and ethanol, but different acetic acid content (P = 0.009). Additionally, MS-V exhibited greater bacterial (P = 0.002) and fungal (P = 0.011) richness than MS-C. Inoculation decreased (P < 0.001) lactic acid levels while increasing (P < 0.05) acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and fungal richness in both mini-silos and bunker. In bunkers, samples collected from D50 had a lower aerobic stability (P < 0.05) than D150, but inoculation increased (P < 0.05) aerobic stability compared to Control, regardless of sampling depth. The storage temperature of mini-silos did not markedly impact the fermentation profile or fungal community. Overall, inoculation increased acetic acid production and fungal diversity in mini-silos, regardless of the storage temperature, and in bunkers, irrespective of sampling the depth, improving the aerobic stability of D50 and D150 bunker silages after long-term ensiling.

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether acetate and glucose metabolism and insulin response to glucose are associated with the growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency of finishing heifers. Charolais heifers (n = 18; initial body weight = 415.7 ± 45.17 kg) were acclimated to restraint with a halter and fed a finishing diet ad libitum using an Insentec feeding system. Following a 12 h fast, a jugular catheter was inserted, and an acetate clearance test was performed followed by a glucose clearance test. Four days after the metabolic tests, heifers began an 84-day DMI and ADG test period. Heifers gained 1.69 ± 0.03 kg/day and consumed 10.4 ± 0.19 kg/day. Acetate and glucose clearance rates were not associated with any production trait (P ≥ 0.40). Insulin time to peak concentration after the glucose challenge was associated (r = 0.69; P = 0.003) with G:F, but not peak concentration (P = 0.45). The increased time to insulin peak could indicate that efficient heifers have pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, which is a contributor to insulin resistance. These data indicate that insulin resistance early in the finishing period could be related to improved feed efficiency in finishing heifers.

Canadian cow-calf producers are facing pressure to adopt management practices and technologies that help increase the economic and environmental sustainability, and public perception of beef production. Our aim was to describe technology adoption, management and record keeping practices in Canadian cow-calf herds, assess associations between herd attributes, productivity outcomes and adoption; and identify opportunities for improvement. Surveys from 131 Canadian cow-calf producers recruited through a national surveillance program were analyzed. Individual female records (80%) and feed testing (84%) were commonly reported as currently or occasionally used, followed by on-farm weigh scales (66%). Western herds were likely to utilize feed testing and nutritionists, ionophores, and growth promoting implants, while eastern herds commonly used reproductive technologies. Large herds (>300 cows) were more likely to adopt technologies that aid in data capture (i.e., weigh scales) and follow recommended practices (i.e., feed testing). Paper was the main record keeping format. Production records were commonly utilized for culling and replacement heifer selection. Technology use has increased across the country compared to previous surveys and producers are implementing practices to help increase production efficiency. However, there is an opportunity to increase use of technologies that support individual animal and herd data to help inform ranch decisions.

This study aimed to evaluate the ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of nutrients of two cultivars of oat grains (CDC Nasser and CDC Seabiscuit) in comparison with a barley grain (CDC Meredith that was considered the control treatment) in dairy cows. Nasser showed higher rumen undegradable protein (RUP; P < 0.01) and intestinal digestible protein (P < 0.01) than Seabiscuit or control. However, the total digestible protein was not different among grain varieties (P = 0.25). The in vitro intestinal digestibility of RUP (dIBP) for Nasser was higher than control (P = 0.02); however, the dIBP in Seabiscuit did not differ from other cultivars. The intestinal digestible rumen bypass starch and total digestible starch were lower in the oat grain varieties than in the control (P < 0.01). The truly absorbed protein supplied to the small intestine (DVE) was highest for control, intermediate for Seabiscuit, and lowest for Nasser (P < 0.01). Moreover, control showed a higher estimated feed milk value than oat varieties (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Seabiscuit shared similar rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility with control suggesting that Seabiscuit oat grain could in some extension replace barley grain in diets for dairy cows.

Goats play a crucial role in providing humans with various types of valuable products including milk and meat. The underlying genetic mechanisms of important morphological aspects remain largely unknown in goats, highlighting the need for further investigation. A genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was conducted for three morphological phenotypes in Egyptian goats. All animals were genotyped using the Illumina 65 K SNP BeadChips. Results of GWAS for wattles identified two significant (P ≤ 1.4 × 10^–6, false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 10 within a region (72–74 Mb) containing FMN1 and GREM1 genes that are important for limb development and growth. For horns, three significant SNPs were identified on chromosome 1 (119–131 Mb) harbouring candidate genes for embryonic development and tissue differentiation, such as CEP70, DZIP1L, CLDN18, SOX14, and SLC35G2. For supernumerary teats, four significant SNPs located on chromosomes 25 (8.7 Mb), 9 (47.8 Mb), 17 (45.1 Mb), and 28 (6.7 Mb) were identified, harbouring candidate genes involved in morphogenesis and reproductive traits such as EMP2, MDN1, PCDH10, and GHITM. This study identified novel candidate genes alongside previously reported ones in other goat breeds, suggesting their potential as candidate genes for the studied traits in Egyptian goats.

A study evaluated porcine in vitro digestion and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) solubilization of corn and wheat without or with xylanase alone or xylanase plus feruloyl esterase (FE). The enzymes supplied 4000 U of xylanase and 35 U of FE per kilogram of sample. Samples were digested with pepsin at a pH of 2.0 and then with pancreatin at a pH of 6.8. The digested samples were filtered to obtain unhydrolyzed residue, which was then washed using alcohol and acetone. The cereal grains (CGs) before in vitro digestion and the washed unhydrolyzed residues were analyzed for dry matter and NSP. Xylanase improved (P < 0.05) in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) for wheat (85% vs. 89%), but not for corn (78% vs. 79%). Addition of FE to the xylanase-supplemented CGs increased (P < 0.05) IVDDM for both CGs, and reduced (P < 0.05) the arabinoxylans in the unhydrolyzed residue for corn, but not for wheat. In conclusion, xylanase product used in the current study is more effective in improving the digestibility of nutrients in wheat than in corn. The FE product used in the current study can improve the efficacy of xylanase in improving the nutrient digestibility of wheat and corn.