Effect of heat treatment of canola seed and its meal on nutrients degradability, ruminal fermentation, and ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids using rumen simulation technique (Rusitec).

Background: One possible method to improve ruminant nutrient utilization is heat treatment of feed ingredients, such as canola seed and its meal, to reduce ruminal degradation of proteins and unsaturated fatty acids (FA).

Objective: The study evaluates the impact of heat treatment of canola seed and its meal on nutrient degradation, ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated FA, and rumen liquor parameters.

Methods: Four degradability trials were conducted using the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec) with four vessels. Untreated whole canola seeds, heated whole canola seeds, untreated canola meal, and heated canola meal at 127°C for 15 minutes were used as four treatments in four separate trials.

Results: Heat treatment of whole canola seed and its meal decreased the rumen degradability of most nutrients, especially crude protein and crude fat, and reduced the rumen ammonia concentration. Moreover, the heat treatment of whole canola seed decreased the rumen biohydrogenation of mono unsaturated FA, polyunsaturated FA, and total long-chain FA contents. Heat-treated canola seed and meal had an increase in the total volatile FA content (especially acetate, propionate, and iso-valerate) of the rumen fluid when compared to the untreated groups.

Conclusion: From the obtained results, it could be concluded that the heat treatment of whole canola seed and its meal was effective in protecting the dietary crude protein from rumen degradation, and also the unsaturated FA from ruminal biohydrogenation. Heat treatment increases the rumen bypass of both amino acids and unsaturated FA from canola seeds and meals, which are essential in improving the productive performance of ruminants.