Researchers discovered that feeding industrial hemp to cows affects the physical health of the animal and modifies the milk.
In Germany, a group of researchers fed ten dairy cows with industrial hemp for 28 days to analyze the reaction it produced in the animal. The researchers concluded that the cows suffered changes in their behaviorsuch as increased yawning, salivation, runny nose, drowsiness, and pronounced tongue play.
The analysis of the study is conclusive “Dairy cows eating hemp scraps from the cannabis industry appear to be drugged – sleepy and insecure – to the point of illness and have potentially unsafe levels of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in their milk, in addition to a reduction in its production.”
The beginnings of the study go back more than ten years. At the time, there were indications in the European Union that cannabinoids contained in commercial hemp fed to cows could pass into the animal’s milk, but there were no reliable data at the time. For this study, ten dairy cows that received different amounts of commercial hemp silage in their feed ration were examined. At a comparatively high concentration of cannabinoids, the behavior of the animals changed significantly. From the second day, the cows ate less and also gave less milk. Breathing and heartbeat slowed down, the cows became sleepy, unstable in their movements, there was increased salivation and redness of the eyes. Shortly after the start of feeding, significant amounts of THC and other cannabinoids were also detected in the milk.
What is industrial hemp
Industrial hemp or simply hemp are the most commonly known names for a variety of cannabis with which different products are made, such as fibers, commonly used in the textile sector. It contains less than 0.2% THC, therefore, it is said that it does not produce any psychoactive effect, smoked or ingested, even if it is the same cannabis plant.
Industrial and scientific use of hemp in Colombia
In colombia, The Congress of the Republic approved this year the project of Law nº 2204 in which it is allowed to use the fiber and the grain of this materialwhose content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), salts and acid forms is equal to or less than 0.3%, as well as regulating the commercialization, import, export, acquisition of the plant for industrial and scientific purposes in the country.
However, one of the points that the law mentions is that products for animal use or consumption may not be manufactured from hemp grain or vegetable component, Therefore, the products derived from this material that are intended for animal consumption must comply with the current regulations issued by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA).