Effects of different levels of hemp seed meal supplementation in lamb diets on fattening performance and metabolic responses

Hemp seed meal is being researched as an alternative feed material for ruminants. It is known that sheep perform well on a wide variety of alternative feeds due to their broad feeding preferences and ability to utilize feed sources that other animals cannot. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding hemp seed meal at different levels (5%, 10%, 15%) to lamb rations on fattening performance and certain blood characteristics. A total of 40 Akkaraman lambs, homogeneous in age and weight, were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 10). The lambs, housed in individual pens, were fattened for 75 days after a two-week adaptation period. The lambs were fattened with four different rations: control ration, and rations supplemented with 5%, 10%, and 15% hemp seed meal (HSM). In our study, there was no difference in the live weights of lambs fed the control or HSM-supplemented diets at different periods of the feeding period, or in their final live weights at the end of the feeding period, indicating that the overall performance of the animals was similar. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in feed conversion ratios between the groups. The biochemical characteristics in the blood serum of the lambs in this study indicate that HSM was well tolerated when supplemented to the ration and no side effects were seen during the fattening period. The results suggested that HSM can be added to lamb diets without causing adverse effects on lamb fattening performance or health.