With the ever increasing interest in industrial hemp (iHemp) biomass as a feed for livestock it is important to investigate how the cannabinoids contained in iHemp are tolerated and eliminated by the ruminant animal. Currently, there is limited data on the effects the cannabinoids may have when consumed by ruminants, including the non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD), which is a main cannabinoid of iHemp.
Eight Merino ewes were orally dosed with 175 mg CBD/kg BW (following post-administration analysis of the dose solution the average dosage was actually 193.5 mg/kg BW). This dose was calculated based off a realistic dose of CBD that a sheep could consume over a day if they were to graze an iHemp crop in Australia. Following administration, CBD was detectable in the plasma of sheep up to 96 h, before decreasing below detectable limits from 120 h onwards, resulting in an average elimination half-life of 14.2 h. CBD was detectable in the subcutaneous fat of one of the eight sheep 28 d post oral administration but was undetectable in all sheep at d 91. There were no obvious signs of any adverse health effects following the CBD dose and no health concerns arose upon return of blood biochemistry results. At this stage it appears CBD is safe for ruminant consumption (when administered at 193.5 mg CBD/kg BW PO); however, concern still remains for the other cannabinoids present in iHemp, in particular the psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.