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Dietary Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Products Enhance Egg Yolk Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Color Without Compromising Laying-Hen Performance: A Meta-Analysis
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Doctoral Program in Innovative Tropical Agriculture, School of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
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Department of Agricultural Education, School of Industrial Education and Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand
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Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Faculty of Animal Science, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(14), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15142062 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 June 2025
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Revised: 5 July 2025
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Accepted: 11 July 2025
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Published: 12 July 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)
Simple Summary
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), a plant known for its healthy fats and natural compounds, is being explored as an alternative feed ingredient, especially for egg-laying hens. This study reviewed results from 21 earlier experiments to understand how feeding hemp to hens affects their performance, the quality of their eggs, and the types of fats found in the yolk. The results found that adding hemp products to the diet did not affect hen performance. However, it did make the egg yolks a richer yellow and red color, and it increased the amount of healthy omega-3 fats, which are good for human health. These findings suggest that hemp can help produce eggs with added health benefits and a more appealing yolk color. However, farmers and feed producers need to be careful with how much hemp they use, especially for younger hens. More research is needed to find the best ways to use hemp in poultry diets to benefit both animals and consumers.
Abstract
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) products have gained attention in poultry nutrition for their rich content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), bioactive compounds, and potential functional benefits. However, findings on their impact on laying-hen performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid profiles have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary hemp products on laying-hen performance, egg quality traits, and yolk fatty acid composition, while exploring potential sources of heterogeneity across studies. A comprehensive literature search identified 21 studies that met the inclusion criteria. A random-effects model was used to calculate standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for various outcomes, including production performance, egg quality, and yolk fatty acid profiles. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses assessed the influence of factors such as inclusion level, hen age, and hemp product type. The results showed that hemp supplementation had no significant effect on hen-day production, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, or feed intake. However, yolk redness (SMD = 4.40; 95% CI: 2.46, 6.33; p < 0.001) and yellowness (SMD = 4.45; 95% CI: 2.75, 6.16; p < 0.001) were significantly enhanced. Hemp feeding also increased n-3 PUFA levels in egg yolk, including C18:3n3, C20:5n3, and C22:6n3, while reducing saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Subgroup analysis indicated that inclusion levels >10% and hen age ≤25 weeks were associated with slight reductions in hen-day production, whereas older hens (>25 weeks) showed increased egg weight. In conclusion, hemp products can enrich yolk pigmentation and n-3 PUFA content in eggs, supporting the production of functional, value-added eggs without compromising the laying-hen performance.
Keywords:
production performance; hen-day production; egg weight; egg quality
