Sarah studied a Bachelor of Animal Science and completed Honours researching green hemp biomass as a feed for ruminant animals. Currently undertaking a PhD which involves investigating industrial hemp further to determine whether it is a safe and suitable feed for ruminant animals.

Nutrient digestibility, rumen parameters, and (cannabinoid) residues in sheep fed pelleted diets containing industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) biomass.

G. L. Krebs, S. A. Stevens, D. W. De Rosa, D. M. White, C. J. Scrivener, G. K. Noble, B. L. Blake, K. C. Dods, C. D. May, Z. X. Tai, E. H. Clayton, and E. E. Lynch.

Two feeding studies have supported that when hemp (as either green biomass or stubble) is incorporated into pelleted rations, nutritionally it is a suitable feed for sheep, having no adverse effects on feed intake, animal health or performance, or meat quality. However, despite relatively low levels in the feed, cannabinoid residues are detectable in subcutaneous fat for extended periods post feeding. Currently, there is zero tolerance for Δ9-THC (or CBD) in foods of animal origin (meat, milk, eggs) until Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) sets a safe or ‘maximum level’. Consequently, feeding industrial hemp as either stubble or green biomass is restricted until management strategies can be defined to ensure no detectable cannabinoids are present in marketable goods or a maximum limit for cannabinoids in animal products is set by FSANZ.