Milk yield and fatty acid profile in milk of small dairy ruminants supplemented with hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed products: A meta-analysis

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of dietary inclusion of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed products (HSP) on milk yield, milk composition, and milk fatty acid profile of small dairy ruminants (sheep and goats) through a meta-analysis. The inclusion of HSP in diets significantly increased (p< 0.05) milk yield, milk fat content and yield, milk protein yield, milk lactose yield. Simultaneously, these products significantly decreased (p < 0.05) lactose content, somatic cell count, the concentration of of several fatty acids (lauric, myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, and heptadecanoic), total saturated fatty acids, the omega-6/omega-3 ratio, the atherogenic index, and the thrombogenic index. In contrast, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in the concentrations of linoleic, vaccenic, conjugated linoleic, α-linolenic, arachidic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids, as well as in the total content of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and omega-3 fatty acids. These results indicate that the use of HSP in the diets of small dairy ruminants improves both milk yield and composition, as well as the fatty acid profile.