530 - Late-Breaking: Hempseed Meal as a Protein Replacement in the Diet of Meat Rabbits

Hempseed meal, with its recent legalization and potential for growth in the U.S. market, represents an up-and-coming agricultural commodity. While the oil from either bracts or seeds is the primary product of interest from the plant, like many oilseeds, hempseed meal is a potentially viable feedstuff for inclusion in livestock diets. However, because this product has only recently been introduced, few data exist as to how hempseed meal may function in these situations. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effect of hempseed meal as a protein replacement in a complete feed offered to meat rabbits. Weaned Californian meat rabbits (n = 32) were allocated randomly to eight cages (four animals/cage) in a generalized complete block design. Cages were allocated randomly to one of four levels of protein replacement: 0, 25, 50-, or 75%. Rabbits were fed for 35 d from weaning to harvest. Feed samples were collected daily and composited weekly. Orts and feces were collected in the final seven days of each period to calculate measures of digestibility. Initial BW did not differ (P = 0.99) among treatments; however, final BW and ADG were less (P < 0.05) from 75% replacement and did not differ among other treatments. Because of feed consumption differences, feed-to-gain ratios did not differ (P = 0.44) among treatments. Similarly, DM digestibility did not differ (P = 1.00) among treatments. Results are interpreted to mean that palatability may have impacted animal performance, as evidenced by final BW and ADG, but hempseed meal may be included in the diet of meat rabbits at up to 50% replacement of CP without adverse effects on the animal.