Evaluation of the effects of hempseed cake on plasma metabolites and cytokines in response to an LPS challenge in finishing steers

Abstract

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.25 µg LPS/kg of BW) challenge in steers (n = 5; initial BW = 542 kg, SD = 40 kg; Youden square) was conducted to evaluate feeding 0% (dry matter basis; control) or 20% hempseed cake (HEMP) or corn distillers grains (DDGS) on plasma metabolites and cytokines. Plasma isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, total nonessential amino acids, IL-1α, IL-36RA, and TNF-α decreased (P ≤ 0.04) in steers fed hempseed cake compared to steers fed DDGS after the LPS challenge. These data suggest that hempseed cake may influence inflammation by altering cytokine production and by increasing degradation and/or utilization of some amino acids.