THIS PROPOSAL DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE PRIORITIES OF THE EXPLORATORY RESEARCH PROGRAM BY PROVIDING TOOLS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE UTILIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL HEMP (IH) IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. THE 2014 FARM BILL LEGALIZED THE CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION OF IH (CANNABIS SATIVA CONTAINING &LT; 0.3%TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC)). THE REMOVAL OF IH AS DEA SCHEDULE I DRUG IN THE 2018 FARM BILL HAS GENERATED INTEREST IN HEMP CULTIVATION AS A NOVEL AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY. HEMP PLANTS, AND THEIR BY-PRODUCTS, ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE NUTRITIONAL AND POTENTIALLY THERAPEUTIC VALUE WHEN USED AS A FEED SOURCE IN LIVESTOCK. HOWEVER, THE PRESENCE OF BIOACTIVE CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS IN HEMP MAY RESULT IN DRUG RESIDUES THAT COULD POSE A RISK TO THE CONSUMER. THE ABSENCE OF PUBLISHED DATA DESCRIBING THE PHARMACOKINETICS, TISSUE AND MILK RESIDUE DEPLETION OF CANNABINOIDS IN CATTLE IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENT TO FUTURE ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION RESEARCH WITH IH. THIS PROPOSAL WILL DIRECTLY ADDRESS THIS DEFICIENTLY BY (1) DEVELOPING NOVEL ANALYTICAL TOOLS TO QUANTIFY CANNABINOID CONCENTRATIONS IN HEMP PLANT MATERIALS AND IN THE BLOOD, MILK AND EDIBLE TISSUES OF CATTLE EXPOSED TO HEMP AND (2) CHARACTERIZING THE PLASMA PHARMACOKINETICS (PK) AND MILK AND EDIBLE TISSUE RESIDUE DEPLETION PROFILES OF CANNABINOIDS AND THEIR METABOLITES IN CATTLE AFTER ORAL EXPOSURE TO IH. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THESE SPECIFIC AIMS WILL DELIVER NEW KNOWLEDGE THAT WILL FULFILL THE MANDATE OF THE FARM BILL. THE OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT ARE URGENTLY NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE VALUE OF HEMP PRODUCTS IN U.S. LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS TO BE INVESTIGATED.