Texas poultry and horse sectors are now free to feed Texas-grown hempseed oil and hempseed meal to chickens and horses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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The Texas Hemp Growers Association (THGA), Tarleton State University, and a team of experts from element6 Dynamics collaborate to gain acceptance of a self-affirmed GRAS from the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service to feed hempseed meal and hempseed oil to chickens and horses in the state of Texas.

FEED INDUSTRY MEMORANDUM NO. 5-35 and FEED INDUSTRY MEMORANDUM NO. 5-36 issued on Jan. 24, 2023, has defined Hempseed Oil, Mechanical Extracted and Hempseed Meal, Mechanical Extracted, ingredients for the manufacture of feed for all life cycles and categories of horses and chickens in the State of Texas. The Texas Commercial Feed Control Act §141.008 authorizes the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service to adopt rules authorizing, defining, and controlling the use of hemp and hemp products in commercial feed.

High in fiber, protein, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, hemp was a staple in animal diets for centuries before its prohibition. Though legalized for growing and declared an agricultural commodity by the 2018 US Farm Bill, a lack of approval for animal feed has hampered hemp grain markets, making it a less profitable crop for farmers. The GRAS acceptance will provide new markets for registered Texas hemp farmers. “Many of our licensed farms are also family-owned. We want to do everything we can to support these families and their investments. It’s good for Texas agriculture, and we need to continue to support this growing and burgeoning industry.” said Sid Miller, Texas Agriculture Commissioner

In 2022, Texas Hemp Growers Association, Tarleton State’s Dr. Kimberly Guay, Hunter Buffington, Jessica Scott, and Caitlin Denman (a dedicated team representing element6 Dynamics) submitted a risk assessment accompanied by third-party reviews to the Service, thereby initiating the ingredient review and assessment and approval process. Research on hempseed products conducted at Tarleton State University by Dr. Kimberly Guay has been critical in creating the risk assessment submission with a donation of hempseed meal from SLV Hemp and transported by Camphouse Hemp.