Assessment of the Palatability and Acceptability of Hempseed Meal Pellets in Horses Compared to Mainstream Feedstuffs.

The study suggests that hempseed meal (HSM) may be similarly palatable for horses as is rice bran pellets (RBP), and might be more readily consumed than either soybean meal pellets (SBM) or beet pulp pellets (BPP). The horse’s consumption of HSM appeared to increase over time, with no discernible impact linked to the consumption of hay.

Research Context and Objective

• The researchers undertook this study in the context of the increased availability of hemp due to recent legal changes.
• The primary objective of the research was to determine how palatable horses found hempseed meal (HSM), as a possible alternative feedstuff to mainstream options like soybean meal pellets (SBM), beet pulp pellets (BPP), or rice bran pellets (RBP).

Research Design and Methodology

• The study comprised two trials, the first of which was rapidly replicated using a Latin Square design, involving three geldings and three mares. In this trial, horses were offered SBM, RBP, BPP, and HSM at different feedings, each in separate buckets, followed by a ‘washout phase’ and a then a ‘treatment phase’.
• In Trial 2, six geldings were fed 1 kg of HSM pellets twice over two 5-minute periods, with a 1-hour break in between during which they were offered hay.

Key Findings of the Study

• Results from Trial 1 showed that the consumption of HSM was greater than that of SBM and BPP, yet about the same as RBP. Notably, the consumption of HSM increased with each subsequent period.
• In Trial 2, the intake of HSM was observed to be less on the first three days compared to the sixth day. Interestingly, hay consumption was higher on the first two days compared to the sixth day. However, no correlation was found between the consumption of HSM and hay.

Implications of the Findings

• These findings suggest that HSM possesses similar palatable qualities to RBP and is generally more favoured by horses than SBM and BPP.
• The study demonstrated that the consumption of HSM increases over time, indicating a potential increase in the palatability of HSM as horses continue to consume it.
• The findings suggest that HSM could serve as an acceptable replacement to more common horse feeds in equine diet planning.