Nutrient concentrations, digestibility, and cannabinoid concentrations of industrial hemp plant components

Objective: The cultivationand production of industrial hemp [Cannabis saliva containing <0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)] has increased. Information regarding the nutrient composition and cannabinoid concentration of different plant parts are deficient. Materials and Methods: Single lots of industrial hemp plants and by-products of cannabinoid production were obtained from a licensed research station located in south-central Kansas. Samples obtained were (1) whole industrial hemp plants (no roots), (2) stalks remaining after seed harvesting, (3) unprocessed female flowers intended for cannabinoid extraction, (4) whole seed heads for seed production, (5) leaves obtained from the drying process, (6) chaff obtained after seed harvesting and cleaning, and (7) processed female flowers after cannabinoid extraction. Plant materials were submitted for nutrient concentration and digestibility analysis, and for cannabinoid concentration determination, to a commercial nutrition laboratory. Results and Discussion: Dry matter of the plant material ranged from 65 to 96.6%. Crude protein ranged from 5.3 to 24.5%. Calcium concentration was from 1.0 to 5.7% DM. The plants tested had high fiber concentrations, with NDF ranging from 28 to 80% and ADF ranging from 18 to 65% DM. Total digestible nutrients was 19.8 to 61.5. Six of the 10 cannabinoids tested were detected in all samples. Cannabidiolic acid, cannabidiol, and Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A were detected in all samples at the highest concentrations. Implications and Applications: These findings will assist livestock producers in using industrial hemp in animal feeds through consideration of both the nutritional and cannabinoid concentrations in the ration.