Study links hemp seed diets to nutrient shifts in beef
Bottom line
A new study in Animals reports that adding whole hemp seeds to beef cattle diets changed the nutrient profile of the resulting beef, with the clearest gains seen at a 10% inclusion rate. In the trial, researchers fed 24 young Holstein–Friesian bulls either a control ration or concentrate supplemented with 10% or 17% whole hemp seeds, then measured fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals in two muscles. Beef from hemp-fed cattle showed higher concentrations of zinc, magnesium, iron, retinol, and α-tocopherol, along with a shift toward fewer saturated fatty acids and more unsaturated fatty acids. But the higher 17% inclusion level didn’t improve most measures beyond what was seen at 10%, and the diet did not raise long-chain omega-3 PUFA concentrations. The paper was published September 24, 2026. (mdpi.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals and cattle nutrition teams, the study adds to a growing body of work suggesting hempseed can function as a feed ingredient with potential meat-quality benefits, rather than just a novel crop byproduct. At the same time, the findings are more about nutrient profile than production performance, and they land in a regulatory environment that remains uneven. In the U.S., FDA says it has evaluated certain hemp seed-derived ingredients for human food, but not for animal food through GRAS notices, while AAFCO’s more recent ingredient work has moved some hempseed-derived feed ingredients into defined uses for selected species, not cattle. That means the science may be moving faster than practical adoption in bovine diets in many markets. (fda.gov)
What to watch: Watch for follow-up cattle studies on performance, residue and compliance questions, and whether feed regulators broaden approved hemp ingredient pathways for ruminants. (fda.gov)
A September 24, 2026 study in Animals adds fresh data to the small but growing literature on hemp in ruminant diets, reporting that whole hemp seeds improved several nutritional attributes of beef from young Holstein–Friesian bulls. The researchers found increases in zinc, magnesium, iron, retinol, and α-tocopherol in muscle tissue, alongside a more favorable fatty acid pattern, with lower saturated fatty acids and higher unsaturated fatty acids. The biggest point for nutritionists: the lower inclusion level, 10% of concentrate, appeared to deliver most of the benefit, while 17% did not produce further meaningful improvement. (mdpi.com)
That finding fits with the broader arc of hemp feed research. Reviews of hempseed and hemp co-products in ruminants have described the ingredient as nutritionally promising because it supplies protein, oil, and bioactive compounds, while prior beef and lamb work has suggested generally neutral effects on carcass and meat quality, with some potential to improve fatty acid composition. Earlier work on bovine muscle also found hempseed cake could improve aspects of the meat fatty acid profile, and review authors have noted that hemp by-products contain tocopherols and other compounds that could support antioxidant value, even if the evidence base is still limited. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In the new trial, 24 bulls were assigned to one of three groups: a control ration, a ration with 10% whole hemp seeds, or a ration with 17% whole hemp seeds. The team analyzed the longissimus lumborum and semimembranosus muscles and concluded that hemp supplementation increased selected minerals and vitamins and improved the PUFA-to-SFA ratio, but did not increase long-chain n-3 PUFAs. That nuance matters. Hemp’s fatty acid profile often makes it attractive on paper, but rumen biohydrogenation can limit how much of that advantage is ultimately expressed in meat or milk. In other words, the ingredient may improve some lipid indices without necessarily delivering a strong omega-3 enrichment effect in beef. (mdpi.com)
The wider literature also suggests dose matters. A 2021 review of hempseed and co-products in dairy ruminants concluded that hemp supplementation may improve bioactive compounds in milk and dairy products, but said the evidence was too thin to define optimal inclusion rates across species. 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. This new beef paper sharpens that picture by suggesting that, at least for nutrient composition, more hemp isn’t automatically better. (mdpi.com)
There doesn’t appear to be much published third-party reaction yet to this specific paper, likely because it was just released. Still, the industry backdrop is important. FDA states that hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil have been cleared through GRAS-related review for specified uses in human food, but it has not received GRAS notices for hemp-derived ingredients in animal food. AAFCO, meanwhile, has continued to build out ingredient definitions for certain hempseed-derived materials, but the uses reflected in recent official actions are species-specific, including poultry, swine, finfish, and adult dog and cat food, rather than cattle. (fda.gov)
Why it matters: For veterinarians working in beef production, this is less a story about a near-term ration overhaul and more a signal about where functional feed ingredient research is heading. Hempseed may have value as a niche nutritional tool for altering beef composition, especially where producers are exploring alternative oilseed ingredients or differentiated product claims. But practical use still hinges on cost, supply consistency, cannabinoid control, ration formulation, and the legal status of specific hemp ingredients in the relevant market. The study also doesn’t answer the bigger field questions clinicians and consultants often care about first: growth performance, feed efficiency, animal health outcomes, residue risk, and repeatability under commercial conditions. (mdpi.com)
There’s also a translational gap between nutritional promise and regulatory comfort. USDA notes that hemp production is federally regulated, while FDA and local governments regulate hemp products intended for human or animal consumption. That means even as peer-reviewed studies continue to show possible benefits, adoption in cattle feeding programs will depend on whether ingredient pathways become clearer and whether residue and food-safety questions are resolved to regulators’ satisfaction. (ams.usda.gov)
What to watch: Next, expect attention on three fronts: larger cattle trials that include performance and safety endpoints, more work on cannabinoid carryover and food-chain risk, and any movement from FDA or AAFCO that would clarify whether hempseed-derived ingredients can be used more broadly in ruminant feed. Until then, this study is best read as an encouraging nutrition signal, not a practice-changing directive. (fda.gov)
Common questions
What did the hemp seed diet change in beef cattle?
Beef from hemp-fed cattle had higher zinc, magnesium, iron, retinol, and α-tocopherol, plus fewer saturated fatty acids and more unsaturated fatty acids.Did a higher hemp seed level work better?
No. The 17% inclusion level did not improve most measures beyond what was seen at 10%.Did the diet increase omega-3s in the beef?
No. The study found no increase in long-chain omega-3 PUFA concentrations.How many cattle were in the trial?
Researchers fed 24 young Holstein–Friesian bulls a control ration or rations with 10% or 17% whole hemp seeds.