Determination of micronutrient availability resulting in improved precision formulation with canola meal in animal feeds

Objectives

1. To evaluate the availability of selenium in canola meal in layer feed.
2. To increase local and international market competitively of canola meal.
3. To increase the profitability of the livestock industry by precision formulation.

Project Description

Canola meal is a concentrated source of nutrients for poultry, but the bioavailability of choline and selenium have not been reported. In early literature it was reported that most of the choline in canola meal was in the form of sinapic acid and therefore poorly digested, but canola has undergone extensive genetic selection since then and processing methods have improved, it is hypothesized this may impact content and bioavailability. Canadian canola contains significant quantities of selenium, likely due to the level of this nutrient in soils in the prairies. In contrast, many soils where canola is grown in China is deficient in selenium and this likely affects the concentration and bioavailability. The objective of this research was to determine the concentrations and bioavailability of choline and selenium in canola meal and how choline is affected by processing methods and selenium is affected by growing location. A broiler digestibility study (480 birds, 28-day study, 5, 10 and 15% inclusion X solvent extracted and expeller meals + 6 control diets with supplemental choline, 0 to 1200 mg/kg) was conducted to determine content and bioavailability of expeller and solvent extracted canola meals. In-vitro and in-vivo studies (320 birds, 28 days long, 15% inclusion, expeller vs solvent extracted meal, +/- enzyme + 4 control diets ranging from 0 to 1200 mg/kg choline chloride) were conducted to determine if enzyme addition would increase bioavailability of choline. A laying hen study (432 25 week old laying hens for 9 weeks, 8, 16 and 24% inclusion, Canadian vs Chinese solvent extracted meal plus 4 control diets with supplemental selenium at 0, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 ppm selenium in the form of Sel-plex) was conducted to determine the content and bioavailability of selenium in canola meal from Canada and China. Canola meal contained significantly less sinapine than previously reported at 3487 ppm vs 10,000 previously expected. Expeller meal had higher levels of choline than solvent extracted meal (2726 vs 1205 ppm) suggesting processing method impacts this nutrient. Enzyme addition did not affect choline bioavailability and canola meal inclusion at 15% of the diet appeared to provide sufficient choline to support performance without synthetic supplementation of the diet. Choline in canola meal was highly bioavailability and appeared to be close to 100% in both types of meal. Canadian canola meal contained significantly more selenium than meal sourced from China with 1.13 vs 0.001 mg/kg, respectively. The bioavailability in Canadian meal was equal or greater than organic selenium used as a control. Overall, it was concluded that canola meal from Canada is an excellent source of choline and selenium for poultry diets.