Legal Roadblocks Still Stand in the Way of Using Hemp as Animal Feed

While many farmers and other hemp value chain actors have the CBD market on their mind as they consider entering the hemp space, there is a lot of untapped potential in using hemp as animal feed. However, a number of legal issues may delay those who wish to tap the potential of hemp as an animal feed product or ingredient.

Why Hemp as Animal Feed?

Hempseed products have been documented to contain high amounts of fatty acids and protein. They also contain many minerals essential to the health of animals. These include boron, copper, zinc, manganese and iron. Using hemp as animal feed would therefore provide a single source of many of the nutritional needs of animals.

Hemp also contains a large amount of fiber, and this makes hemp products valuable as digestive aids for animals.

What Do People Think About Hemp as Animal Feed?

According to a survey done in Colorado in 2017, 60 percent of the traditional agricultural producers stated that they encourage farmers to grow hemp for animal feed purposes while 48 percent of the respondents admitted that they were ready to use hemp to feed their animals.

This shows that there is an animal feed market for hemp already waiting to be tapped and it is just a matter of availing the products to this market.

However, research is needed to ascertain how digestible hemp is when compared to the existing animal feed products. More research is also needed to throw some light on any potential effects of trace amounts of THC finding their way into animal feed.

While some people are already using hemp products as animal feed, the current laws don’t recognize these products as animal feed ingredients, so those farmers are breaking the law.

For hemp to be recognized as a lawful animal feed ingredient, it must get this recognition in one of three ways.

First, interested manufacturers of hemp animal feed products need to conduct research to prove that hemp can be generally recognized as safe (GRAS). After this is scientifically reviewed, the ingredients will then be submitted for inclusion on the register of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO is a group of 50 state agricultural regulators, federal regulatory agencies and international bodies.

Secondly, hemp can be legalized as an animal feed ingredient after a petition is filed with the FDA to approve a product as an additive.

Thirdly, the FDA can write a letter of no objection in response to a GRAS dossier submitted by a manufacturer of hemp animal feed product.

Of the three methods available, the option of conducting a scientific review to get a GRAS dossier which is then submitted to AAFCO is the least complex alternative to pursue, and a number of entities are working on getting this document. For example, Colorado State, Oregon State and North Carolina State universities are conducting research on the use of hemp as animal feed.

Analysts believe industry players like Geyser Brands Inc. (TSX.V: GYSR) and Golden Developing Solutions Inc. (OTC: DVLP) will be hoping for the best from that research since the outcome will create a broader market for hemp and its by-products.

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