Nutritional Value Of Canola Meal Research Articles

Enhancing the nutritive value of canola meal for broiler chickens through enzymatic modifications.

Enzymatic modification of canola meal (CM) is a potential method to enhance its nutritional value as it can depolymerize nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) and mitigate its potential antinutritive properties. Based on the previous studies, pectinase A (PA), pectinase B (PB), xylanase B (XB), and invertase (Inv) were used for the enzymatic modifications. The highest NSP depolymerization ratio was obtained when 4 g/kg of each PA, PB, and XB, and 0.2 g/kg of Inv were used during 48 h incubation at 40 °C. In the current study, changes in pH, simple sugars, sucrose, oligosaccharides, and NSP contents during the enzymatic modification (CM+E) of CM were measured and compared to Control (CM) without enzymes addition or with the addition of bacteriostat sodium azide (CM+E+NaN3). The results showed that spontaneous fermentation occurred during incubation. After incubation, the pH of the slurry decreased, lactic acid was produced, phytate disappeared, and the concentration of simple sugars decreased substantially. The NSP of the slurry was progressively depolymerized by the enzyme blend. The chemical composition and nutritive value of enzymatically-modified CM (ECM) were evaluated. Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to 18 cages of six birds each for the standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) assay. A corn/soybean meal-based basal diet formulated to meet Ross 308 breeder recommendations and two test diets contained 70% of the basal diet and 30% of CM or ECM, respectively, were fed to Ross 308 from 13 to 17 d of age. No difference was observed between SIAAD of CM and ECM. The AMEn value of ECM was 2118.0 kcal/kg on a dry matter basis which was 30.9% greater (P < 0.05) than the CM.

Effects of multi-carbohydrase and phytase on standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids and apparent metabolizable energy in canola meal fed to broiler chicks

Two assays were conducted to evaluate nutritive value of canola meal (CM) fed to broiler chicks without or with a multi-carbohydrase (MC) preparation (700 U α-galactosidase, 2,200 U galactomannanase, 30,000 U xylanase, and 22,000 U β-glucanase per kg of diet) and phytase (Phy, 500 FTU per kg of diet). Assay 1 determined apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and metabolizable energy (AME) by the difference method. Assay 2 determined apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids by the index method. Two reference diets (RD) — an 85% corn based and a 5% casein-cornstarch diet fortified with vitamins and minerals — were made for assays 1 and 2, respectively. For each assay, the test diets were made by mixing RD and CM 7:3 wt/wt basis and fed without or with MC or Phy or combination. A total of 245 day-old male broilers (Cobb 500) was allocated to 5 treatments to give 7 replicates (7 birds/cage). The birds were fed a commercial diet from day zero to 10 followed by assay 1 fed from d 11 to 18 and assay 2 fed from d 19 to 21. Excreta samples were collected on d 15 to18, and all birds were slaughtered on d 21 for ileal digesta. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between MC and Phy on ATTD of DM, N, and P. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between MC and Phy on AMEn; however, MC and Phy individually improved AMEn retention. Enzymes interacted (P < 0.05) on SID of Arg, His, Leu, Met, Thr, Ala, Asp, Gln, and Gly. In this context, feeding a combination of MC and Phy resulted in higher (P < 0.05) SID of Arg, His, Met, and Thr relative to single activity or control. Both enzymes improved (P < 0.05) SID of Lys independently. The combination of carbohydrase and Phy may be an effective strategy to improve amino acid utilization in CM for poultry.

Standardized ileal digestible amino acid contents of canola meal from Canadian crushing plants for growing pigs.

Studies have shown that there are variations in the chemical and nutritive composition of canola meal (CM) produced in Canada, some of which may result from differences among the canola seed crushing plants. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the variability in the nutritive value of CM as its end users desire increased meal consistency and more information on any potential variability in AA digestibility. Thus, 18 ileal cannulated barrows (average initial BW = 23.3 kg) were used to determine the apparent (AID) and standardized (SID) ileal digestibility of N and AA and standardized ileal digestible N and AA contents in CM from 6 processing plants in Canada. Two processing plants provided CM in both mash and pellet forms, whereas the other 4 provided it only in mash form, giving a total of 8 CM samples. The barrows were fed 9 cornstarch-based diets. The first 8 diets were formulated to contain the CM samples as the only source of AA. The ninth diet was a casein-cornstarch diet to determine ileal endogenous AA losses. All diets contained 0.3% titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker. Pigs were housed individually in pens and were fed the 9 diets in a completely randomized design for 3 periods to give 6 pigs per diet. Each experimental period lasted for 7 d, consisting of 5 d of adaptation and 2 d of ileal digesta collection at 2-h intervals from 0800 to 2000 h on d 6 and 7. There was an effect ( < 0.05) of CM source on 1) the AID of N, Met, Cys, Thr, Val, Gly, and Ser; 2) the SID of N, Met, and Cys; and 3) the standardized ileal digestible content of all AA. Pelleting reduced ( < 0.05) the standardized ileal digestible content of Arg, Ile, Glu, and Gly in 1 of the CM samples tested and of all AA except His in the other CM sample. The SID values for Arg, Lys, Met, and Thr averaged 87.2%, 78.2%, 84.5%, and 74.1%, respectively. The standardized ileal digestible contents of Arg, Lys, Met, and Thr averaged 2.10%, 1.71%, 0.50%, and 1.01%, respectively. In conclusion, there were variations in the AID, SID, and standardized ileal digestible AA contents of CM among crushing plants in Canada.

Chemical and ruminal in vitro evaluation of Canadian canola meals produced over 4 years.

To test the effects of year and processing plant on the nutritional value of canola meal (CM), 3 CM samples/yr were collected from each of 12 Canadian production plants over 4yr (total=144). Samples of CM were analyzed for differences in chemical composition and for in vitro ruminal protein degradability using the Michaelis-Menten inhibitor in vitro (MMIIV) method. In the MMIIV method, protein degradation rate (kd) was estimated by 2 methods: from net release (i.e., blank corrected) of (1) ammonia plus AA determined by o-phthaldialdehyde fluorescence (OPAF) assay or (2) ammonia, AA, plus oligopeptides determined by o-phthaldialdehyde absorbance (OPAA) assay; rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) was computed assuming passage rates of 0.16 and 0.06/h for, respectively, soluble and insoluble protein. Casein, solvent soybean meal (SSBM), and expeller soybean meal (ESBM) were included in all incubations as standard proteins. Differences among years and plants were assessed using the mixed procedures of SAS. Small but significant differences were found in CM among years for chemical composition, including N solubility; some of these differences may have been related to changes in our analytical methods over time. However, adjustment of degradation activity of individual in vitro incubations based on the mean degradation activity over all incubations yielded kd and RUP that did not differ by year using either assay. Simultaneously incubating CM samples from 2yr in the same in vitro runs confirmed that no year effects existed for kd or RUP. Differences existed in chemical composition of CM among the 12 processing plants over the 4yr of sample collection. Moreover, consistent differences in kd and RUP were observed among plants: kd ranged from 0.069 to 0.113/h (OPAA assay) and 0.075 to 0.120/h (OPAF assay), and RUP estimates ranged from 51 to 43% (OPAA assay) and 49 to 41% (OPAF assay). Regression of kd on insoluble N content of CM yielded correlation coefficients (R(2))=0.40 (OPAA assay) and 0.42 (OPAF assay), and regressions of kd on NDIN and N-fraction B3 yielded R(2)<0.02. Mean estimates from both OPAA and OPAF assays for casein, SSBM, ESBM, and CM were, respectively, kd=0.764, 0.161, 0.050, and 0.093/h and RUP=18, 33, 56, and 45%. A range of 8 percentage units from lowest to highest RUP suggests that substantial differences exist in metabolizable protein content of CM produced by different processing plants.

Enhancing the Nutritional Value of Canola (Brassica napus) Meal Using a Submerged Fungal Incubation Process

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal fungal culture to increase the nutritional value of canola meal so it could be used at higher feed inclusion rates, and for a broad range of monogastrics, including fish. Submerged incubation conditions were used to evaluate the performance of seven fungal cultures in hexane extracted (HE) and cold pressed (CP) canola meal. Aureobasidium pullulans (Y-2311-1), Fusarium venenatum and Trichoderma reesei resulted in the greatest improvements in protein levels in HE canola meal, at 21.0, 23.8, and 34.8 %, respectively. These fungi reduced total glucosinolates (GLS) content to 2.7, 7.4, and 4.9 μM.g-1, respectively, while residual sugar levels ranged from 0.8 to 1.6 % (w/w). In trials with CP canola meal, the same three fungi increased protein levels by 24.6, 35.2, and 37.3 %, and final GLS levels to 6.5, 4.0, and 4.7 μM.g-1, respectively. Additionally, residual sugar levels were reduced to 0.3-1.0 % (w/w).

Conversion of Canola Meal into a High‐Protein Feed Additive via Solid‐State Fungal Incubation Process

AbstractThe study goal was to determine the optimal fungal culture to reduce glucosinolates (GLS), fiber, and residual sugars while increasing the protein content and nutritional value of canola meal. Solid‐state incubation conditions were used to enhance filamentous growth of the fungi. Flask trials were performed using 50 % moisture content hexane‐extracted (HE) or cold‐pressed (CP) canola meal with incubation for 168 h at 30 °C. Incubation on HE canola meal Trichoderma reesei (NRRL‐3653) achieved the greatest increase in protein content (23 %), while having the lowest residual levels of sugar (8 % w/w) and GLS (0.4 μM/g). Incubation on CP canola meal Trichoderma reesei (NRRL‐3653), A. pullulans (NRRL‐58522), and A. pullulans (NRRL‐Y‐2311‐1) resulted in the greatest improvement in protein content (22.9, 16.9 and 15.4 %, respectively), while reducing total GLS content from 60.6 to 1.0, 3.2 and 10.7 μM/g, respectively. HE and CP canola meal GLS levels were reduced to 65.5 and 50.7 % by thermal treatments while solid‐state microbial conversion further reduced GLS up to 99 and 98 %, respectively. Fiber levels increased due to the concentration effect of removing oligosaccharides and GLS.

Effect of Solid State Fermentation on Nutrient Content and Ileal Amino Acids Digestibility of Canola Meal in Broiler Chickens

The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential of Lactobacillus salivarius solid state fermentation for reduction of glucosinolate content in canola meal (CM) as well as the improvement of its nutrient digestibility for broiler chickens. Canola meal was treated with the L. salivarius in solid state fermentation for 30 days. Nutrients ileal digestibility was tested using 42-day-old broilers fed by either CM or fermented CM (FCM) as the sole source of energy and protein. The results showed that fermentation of CM using L. salivarius reduced glucosinolate content of CM by 38%. The digestibility coefficient was improved significantly for crude protein, Met, Cys, Arg, Asp, Glu, and Ser in FCM compared to CM. However, apparent metabolisable energy of CM was not affected by fermentation. It appears that fermentation treatment of CM using L. salivarius may improve the overall nutritive value of CM for broiler chickens, reducing its total glucosinolate and crude fibre content by 38 and 16%, respectively.

Effect of processing conditions on the nutritive value of canola meal and presscake. Comparison of the yellow and brown‐seeded canola meal with the brown‐seeded canola presscake

Canola, unlike traditional rapeseed, contains low levels of 'erucic acid' and 'glucosinolates'. Canola's industrial processing generally involves separation of the seed into an oil and a meal fraction whereas the intermediate product is called presscake. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of processing conditions on the nutritive value for ruminants and compare the yellow (Brassica juncea) (CM_Y) and the brown-seeded (B. napus) (CM_B) canola meal and the brown-seeded (B. napus) (CPC_B) canola presscake. Either extract was higher (P<0.05) for CPC_B than for CM_Y and CM_B. CM_Y had a higher (P<0.05) PB2 and PC compared to CM_B. Truly digestible fractions, except fatty acid, were lower (P<0.05) for CPC_B. Effective protein degradability of CM_Y was lower (P<0.05) compared to CM_B or CPC_B. In vitro protein intestinal digestibility for CM_Y was higher (P<0.05) than for CM_B or CPC_B. CPC_B had lower protein but higher oil content than canola meal and is a potential high-energy supplement source for ruminants. CM_Y had higher crude protein, digestible and metabolizable energy values and low fiber than CM_B. In plant breeding, selection programs are geared towards yellow-seeded varieties in order to improve the nutritive value of canola meal.

Factors that affect the nutritive value of canola meal for poultry

This article reviews the factors affecting the nutritive value of canola meal (CM), including glucosinolates, sinapine, phytic acid, tannins, dietary fiber, and electrolyte balance. It also addresses the means of improving the nutritive value of CM throughout seed dehulling, development of low-fiber canola, or application of feed enzymes. Over the years, the glucosinolate content of canola has been declining steadily and is now only about one-twelfth of that of the older high-glucosinolate rapeseed (that is, 10 vs. 120 μmol/g). Therefore, the rations for broilers or laying hens could now contain 20% of CM without producing any adverse effects. Tannins are of lesser importance due to their presence in the hull fraction and thus low water solubility. Sinapine has been implicated with the production of a "fishy" taint in brown-shelled eggs, which results from a genetic defect among the strain of Rhode Island Red laying hens. The White Leghorns have been reported not to be affected. Although lower in protein, CM compares favorably with soybean meal with regard to amino acid content. Because CM contains more methionine and cysteine but less lysine, both meals tend to complement each other when used together in poultry diets. Canola meal is low in arginine (Arg) which could be of importance when introducing CM to broiler diets at high inclusion rates. The Arg content of CM is approximately two-thirds of that of soybean meal. Chickens fail to synthesize Arg and are highly dependent on dietary sources for this amino acid. Supplementation of Arg to CM-based diets has been shown to partly restore the growth performance. Dietary cation-anion difference in CM is also less than optimal due to the high sulfur and low potassium contents. Seed dehulling has not been very successful due to excessive fineness and thus difficulties with percolation of the miscella through the cake. Development of low-fiber, yellow-seeded canola and the use of enzymes have proven to increase the energy utilization and the nutritive value of CM for poultry.

Effects of cellulase addition to canola meal in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) diets

The effects of commercial cellulase enzyme products on the nutritive value of canola meal (CM) were determined in tilapia fry. Nine diets were prepared by adding cellulase enzyme (1–5 g kg−1) to control diet (containing no canola), low canola (41.7 g kg−1 CM) and high canola (208.3 g kg−1 CM). Tilapia fry was fed for 90 days, and growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body composition and nutrient digestibility were determined. Fish fed the diets containing the lowest levels of canola meal (41.7 g kg−1) had similar final weight and FCR relative to the group fed the control diet, and high canola diet showed significantly lower growth than other groups (P < 0.05), irrespective of cellulase enzyme. The addition of canola meal to tilapia diets resulted in lower protein digestibility and cellulose digestibility. There were no significant differences in body compositions in all treatments. Addition of enzymes to canola meal diets had no significant effects on growth performance, body compositions and nutrient digestibility. The results of this study indicate that use in higher level of canola meal in tilapia diet was adversely affected growth parameters and FCR. Adding dietary cellulase enzyme in different rations to diets showed no significant differences in growth parameter.

Effects of electron beam irradiation on chemical composition, antinutritional factors, ruminal degradation and in vitro protein digestibility of canola meal

The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of electron beam (EB) irradiation at doses of 15, 30 and 45 kGy on the nutritional value of canola meal. The phytic acid and total glucosinolate content of EB-irradiated canola meal decreased as irradiation doses increased ( P<0.01). From in situ results, irradiation of canola meal at doses of 45 kGy decreased ( P<0.05) the effective degradibility of crude protein (CP) by 14%, compared with an untreated sample. In vitro CP digestibility of EB-irradiated canola meal at doses of 15 and 30 kGy was improved ( P<0.05). Electrophoresis results showed that napin and cruciferin sub-units of 30 and 45 kGy EB-irradiated canola meal were more resistant to degradation, compared with an untreated sample. Electron beam irradiation was effective in protecting CP from ruminal degradation and reducing antinutritional factors of irradiated canola meal.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Anti Nutritional Factors and Nutritional Value of Canola Meal for Broiler Chickens

Two completely randomized block design experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of gamma irradiation processing of canola meal on performance parameters of broiler chicks (Ross 308) and protein quality of canola meal. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and net protein ratio (NPR) were measured as indices of canola meal protein quality. Samples of canola meal were tested for nutritional value after being irradiated at dose levels 10, 20 and 30 kGy. Glucosinolate content was reduced 40, 70 and 89 percent at irradiation dose levels of 10, 20 and 30 kGy respectively (p 0.05). Liver weight was decreased by irradiation dose (p 0.05). Gamma irradiation processing of canola meal had no significant effect on T3 level in blood of chickens that consumed canola meal, but T4 level of chicken blood at the 30 kGy dose decreased significantly (p 0.05). Gamma irradiation seems to be a good procedure to improve the nutritional quality of canola meal. (Key Words : Canola Meal, Gamma Irradiation, Performance, Glucosinolate, Erucic Acid, Chickens)

Effects of prepress-solvent extraction on the nutritional value of canola meal for broiler chickens

The objective of the experiment was to determine if standard prepress-solvent extraction of canola (low glucosinolate, low erucic acid rapeseed) affects the nutritional value of the resulting meal for broiler chickens. Three sets of samples were collected from all stages of prepress-solvent extraction at a commercial crushing plant and examined for nutritional value. Except for cystine and serine, processing stages up to and including solvent extraction did not affect coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID). However, the desolventization/toasting process reduced ( P<0.05) lysine content (6.03–5.50 g/16 gN), crude protein CAID (0.81–0.77), lysine CAID (0.87–0.79) and the CAID of all the other amino acids except glutamine, leucine, methionine and serine. Desolventization/toasting increased the coefficient of variation (percent CV) for the CAID of lysine over the solvent extracted meal (5.6% versus 1.4%) and all the other amino acids except glutamine, histidine, leucine, and serine. As expected, apparent metabolizable energy (AME) content decreased ( P<0.05) with expelling and solvent extraction due to the reduced oil content, but was not affected by other processing stages. In conclusion, commercial desolventization/toasting can reduce the content and CAID of many amino acids in canola meal and increase the level of variability in nutritional value between canola meal samples.

The non-mineral nutritional impact of phytate in canola meal fed to broiler chicks

Three experiments were conducted to study the effect of in vitro hydrolysis of phytate on the nutritional value of canola meal for broiler chickens. In experiment 1 canola meal was incubated (1:2 meal:H 2O; pH 5.0; 50°C) for 1.5 h with purified or crude phytase (Natuphos ®), or without enzyme addition. Phytase addition hydrolysed 72–73% of meal phytate but neither purified nor crude phytase improved broiler performance. Experiment 2 was designed to study the negative but non-significant effect of meal pre-treatment on the performance of broiler chickens noted in experiment 1. Untreated and four pre-treated meals were included in broiler diets. Pre-treatments consisted of water incubation (1:2 meal:H 2O; pH 5.8; 50°C; 1.5 h), acid incubation (pH 5.0), acid incubation followed by neutralisation with NaOH, and acid incubation followed by the use of additional dietary limestone to balance the anionic contribution of the acid treatment. Dietary treatment did not significantly affect broiler performance. The objectives of experiment 3 were to study the effect of total phytate removal in canola meal on broiler performance. Treatments included canola meal and five pre-treated meals: water incubation, acid incubation, acid incubation followed by neutralisation with NaOH, and the latter treatment using either purified or crude phytase during incubation. Meals were mixed in a ratio of 1:2 (meal:H 2O) and incubated for 23 h at 50°C. Pre-treatment with acid followed by neutralisation with NaOH reduced meal apparent metabolisable energy (AME n) and amino acid availability in comparison to the untreated control. Both purified and crude phytase improved AME n but only purified phytase improved amino acid availability. Broiler growth was unaffected by the elimination of phytate. Phytase addition improved feed to gain ratio with the effect of crude phytase being significant ( P<0.05).

The effects of enzyme addition to broiler diets containing high concentrations of canola or sunflower meal

The effects of two commercial enzyme products on the nutritive value of canola meal (CM) and sunflower meal (SFM) were determined in a classical AME bioassay with special emphasis on the utilization of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP). The enzymes were added to semi-purified broiler grower diets based on corn and casein containing 35% CM or 35% SFM, respectively. Feed intake, growth, and AME of the diets were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by type of oilseed meal included in the diet. Birds fed the SFM-based diets had a significantly (P < 0.001) higher growth rate and AME and a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) than did birds fed the CM-based diets. The addition of enzymes to either CM- or SFM-based diets had no significant effects on growth performance and AME; however, the addition of enzymes to CM-based diets resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration of soluble NSP in the jejunum (Enzyme A) or a significant reduction of total NSP in the jejunum (Enzyme B). The AMEn was significantly lower in diets containing CM supplemented with Enzyme B. The addition of enzymes to SFM-based diets significantly improved NSP digestion in the jejunum and protein digestion in the ileum. The results of this study indicate that commercial enzyme products had some effects in diets containing high concentrations of CM or SFM. However, these effects could only be seen after detailed analyses of feed and digesta and did not result in significant improvement in growth performance of broilers.

Effects of enzyme addition to canola meal in prawn diets

Enhancement of nutritional value of canola meal by the addition of enzymes was investigated in diets for juvenile Penaeus monodon ( X ± SD; 0.96 ± 0.09 g), with emphasis on liveweight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Six diets were prepared containing either no canola (squid meal based basal diet), basal + 20% canola (low canola diet), low canola + 0.25% enzyme mixture (Porzyme, Finnfeeds International), basal + 64% canola (high canola diet), high canola + 0.25% enzyme mixture or basal + 54% canola + 10% sucrose. All diets were fed ad libitum. Juvenile prawns (three prawns per tank) were fed diets for 42 days with five tank replications per diet. Liveweight gain and feed intake were measured. High canola diet gave significantly lower growth rates (1.79 ± 0.42 g) ( P < 0.05), and enzyme addition increased the liveweight gain from this diet by 28%, to a level similar to the basal (2.33 ± 0.49 g) ( P > 0.05). The low canola + enzyme diet also resulted in higher liveweight gain (2.40 ± 0.16 g) than the basal and low canola diets (2.29 ± 0.27 g) but it was not significant. Addition of the enzyme mixture to diets also gave a significant improvement in FCRs. The addition of sucrose to the canola based diet resulted in a significantly higher liveweight gain (high canola + sucrose 2.01 ± 0.22 g), but did not change the FCR.

The effects of protease and carbohydrase supplementation on the nutritive value of canola meal for poultry: In vitro and in vivo studies

An in vitro incubation system was used to assess a variety of enzyme preparations regarding activities toward protein and carbohydrate components in canola meal with the objective of identifying those preparations that possessed potential for improvement of the nutritive value of canola meal. Promising preparations were evaluated further in 2-week growth trials utilizing 4-day-old broiler chickens. Enhanced protein hydrolysis was demonstrated for several of the protease enzyme preparations studied in the in vitro incubation system. Protein hydrolysis was most effective when either pancreatin or pronase were included in the incubation medium along with the protease enzyme and for the most effective protease preparations values for percent of total protein hydrolyzed exceeded those for pancreatin or pronase acting alone. The most effective protease preparation also resulted in improved broiler chick growth performance when added to semipurified canola meal diets. While some carbohydrase enzyme preparations were shown to be effective in the in vitro test of cell wall polysaccharide solubilization, only a trend toward improved growth performance was noted when broiler chickens were fed semipurified canola meal diets containing these enzyme preparations. A synergistic response in growth of young (4–11 days of age) broiler chickens was noted when phytase, carbohydrase and protease enzymes were added to a wheat/canola meal based diet deficient in available phosphorus.

Factors affecting the nutritional value of canola meal: A review

In this review canola meal (CM), its nutritionally significant components and the availability of its nutrients to poultry, pigs and cattle were discussed. Avenues for possible improvement in available energy, protein and lysine were identified. Recent findings on glucosinolates were also discussed with the conclusion that a further reduction of glucosinolates through plant breeding is both possible and desirable. The role of the anti-nutrients sinapine, tannins and phytic acid were also considered. The potential impact of improvements to CM on its economic value was examined using linear program least-cost ration formulations applied to typical market situations. Key words: Canola meal, energy, protein, carbohydrates, anti-nutritional factors, economics

The nutritive value of canola meal for early-weaned pigs

Four experiments using 900 crossbed pigs were conducted to determine the nutritive value of canola meal (CM) for pigs weaned at 3 or 5 weeks of age. Diets were based on barley and wheat, and CM replaced 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100% of the protein supplied by soya bean meal (SBM) on an isoenergetic and isonitrogenous basis. In Experiments 1 and 2, with pigs weaned at three weeks of age, regression analyses of the results indicated that, for each percent addition of CM to the diets, there was a significant ( P < 0.001) linear decrease in average daily feed intake and average daily gain by 4 and 2 g, respectively. Regression analyses of results of Experiments 3 and 4 for pigs weaned at 5 weeks of age indicated that, for each percent inclusion of CM in the diet, there was a significant ( P < 0.001) linear decrease in average daily feed intake and average daily gain by 4.3 and 3.6 g, respectively. In all 4 experiments feed-to-gain ratio was not affected ( P > 0.05) by the level of CM in the diet.

Autolysis of phytic acid and protein in canola meal (Brassica spp.), wheat bran (Triticum spp.) and fish silage blends

AbstractFish silage, canola meal, and wheat bran were blended to form an acid‐stabilised, paste‐like product. Changes in protein nitrogen, non‐protein nitrogen, phytic acid, and orthophosphorus contents of the acidified blends were measured over a 5‐week period of storage at room temperature (20–22°C). During the storage period, phytic acid from the canola meal was dephosphorylated by phytase from the wheat bran. Changes in the level of non‐protein nitrogen showed that the fish proteins were partially hydrolysed and liquefied during storage, and that the fish enzymes may have partially hydrolysed the canola meal and wheat bran proteins. The resulting product could be stored at room temperature without spoiling and could be dried in conventional drying equipment. This process provides a means of improving the nutritional value of canola meal by reducing its high phytate content, and of producing a homogeneous dry feed commodity from liquid fish silage.