A survey of variation in the chemical composition of commercial canola meal produced in Western Canadian crushing plants

Abstract

Canola samples of whole seed, press cake and commercial meal (CM) were collected from seven canola-crushing plants in Western Canada over 4 successive weeks to assess nutrient and glucosinolate content and variability. The CM data are described in this report. The mean concentrations in CM (dry matter (DM) basis) were: in %, crude protein (N × 6.25) 41.85; ether extract 3.92; crude fiber 13.13; neutral detergent fiber 23.54; acid detergent fiber 19.09; and in MJ kg−1, gross energy 20.36. The mean mineral concentrations were, in percent, calcium 0.70; magnesium 0.57; phosphorus 1.13; potassium 1.35; sulfur 0.94; and in μg g−1, copper 6.34; iron 157; manganese 54.7; molybdenum 1.5; selenium 1.22; zinc 75.8. Total aliphatic glucosinolate concentrations (oil-free DM basis) ranged from 6.26 to 28.42 μmol g−1 for different plants, mean 16.20; indolyl glucosinolate concentrations were from 0.56 to 9.49 μmol g−1. Small and variable amounts of allyl and hydroxybenzyl glucosinolates due to weed seed contamination were found. Myrosinase activity (thioglucoside glucohydrolase EC 3.2.3.1) averaged 0.15% of that in the corresponding canola seed. Differences among crushing plants were due mainly to regional environmental factors, cultivars used and, for lysine and glucosinolates, processing conditions mainly in the desolventizer toaster stage. Key words: Canola, meal, composition, variation, regional, Western Canada