Hemp seed inclusion at 10% of concentrate alters nutrient profile of beef, trial finds

A peer-reviewed trial published on 24 September 2026 in the journal Animals has found that supplementing beef cattle diets with whole hemp seeds altered the nutritional composition of the resulting beef, with a 10% inclusion rate in the concentrate appearing to capture most of the measurable benefit.

The study assigned 24 young Holstein–Friesian bulls to one of three dietary groups: a control ration, a ration with 10% whole hemp seeds, or a ration with 17% whole hemp seeds. Researchers subsequently analysed two muscles — the longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus — for fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Beef from hemp-fed cattle showed elevated concentrations of zinc, magnesium, iron, retinol, and α-tocopherol, and the fatty acid profile shifted toward lower saturated fatty acids and higher unsaturated fatty acids, according to the paper. However, the study found no increase in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations in the meat. The source notes that rumen biohydrogenation can limit how much of hemp's inherent fatty acid advantage is ultimately expressed in muscle tissue.

Scaling hemp inclusion from 10% to 17% did not meaningfully improve most of the measured outcomes. The paper concluded that hemp supplementation increased selected minerals and vitamins and improved the PUFA-to-SFA ratio, but the lower dose appeared sufficient to deliver those effects.

The findings add to a small but growing literature on hemp co-products in ruminant diets. Earlier reviews have described hempseed as nutritionally promising because it supplies protein, oil, and bioactive compounds, and prior beef and lamb work has suggested generally neutral effects on carcass and meat quality, with some potential to improve fatty acid composition. A review of hempseed and co-products in dairy ruminants concluded that hemp supplementation may improve bioactive compounds in milk and dairy products, but noted the evidence base remains limited. Separately, a review of hemp by-products in ruminant meat production found overall neutral effects on carcass and meat quality traits in feedlot steers and lambs, while highlighting remaining gaps around sensory outcomes and other downstream quality measures.

Despite the nutritional signals, the regulatory environment for hemp in animal feed remains uneven. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states it has evaluated certain hemp seed-derived ingredients — hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil — through GRAS-related review for specified uses in human food, but has not received GRAS notices for hemp-derived ingredients in animal food. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has continued to build out ingredient definitions for certain hempseed-derived materials, but the uses reflected in recent official actions are species-specific, covering poultry, swine, finfish, and adult dog and cat food, rather than cattle. USDA additionally notes that hemp production is federally regulated, while FDA and local governments regulate hemp products intended for human or animal consumption.

Practical adoption in beef production programmes will also depend on cost, supply consistency, cannabinoid control, ration formulation, and the legal status of specific hemp ingredients in individual markets. The study does not address growth performance, feed efficiency, animal health outcomes, residue risk, or repeatability under commercial conditions — questions that nutritionists and producers typically prioritise before changing rations.

Observers are watching for larger cattle trials that include performance and safety endpoints, further work on cannabinoid carryover and food-chain risk, and any regulatory movement from FDA or AAFCO that would clarify whether hempseed-derived ingredients can be used more broadly in ruminant feed.