Supplementary Materials: Feeding Spent Hemp Biomass to Lactating Dairy Cows: Effects on Performance, Nitrogen Metabolism, Milk Components and Quality, Methane Emission, and Blood Parameters

Spent hemp biomass (SHB) is the byproduct of the extraction of cannabidiol from industrial hemp (hemp). Despite its excellent nutritional value SHB is still illegal to feed it to food-producing animals. Assessing the effects of including SHB in the ration on lactational performance and animal health is one of the critical steps to implementing SHB as a feed for dairy cows. Our study revealed a low palatability of SHB but no effect on overall performance; we observed minor effects on inflammation and metabolic status of the animals and no effect on nitrogen metabolism or enteric methane emission. Our findings suggest that overall, SHB is likely a safe feedstuff for dairy cows.