Improving the nutritional quality of canola meal would increase the amount that could be added to pig and poultry feed, says Peta Bonham-Smith, a biology professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
But this improvement isn’t going to happen soon, she said.
Bonham-Smith, with the assistance of Saskatchewan Agriculture, recently completed a three-year project aimed at reducing phytic acid in canola. Phytates are in all plants but canola has particularly high levels. This interferes with normal gastric function in monogastric animals such as hogs and poultry.
“Canola is also high in protein but the phytates affect the availability of this protein, the activity of digestive enzymes and protein absorption. In fact, the phytates reduce the protein absorption of all protein in the feed.”
Earlier research found several ways to reduce phytates in canola meal, but none were cost-effective.
Her attempts to reduce the phytate levels involved procedures she hoped would lead to genetic manipulation – to no avail.
She will continue the research.
