Quality of western Canadian canola 2018

Protein content

Crude protein content averages were 21.1% for Canola, No.1 Canada, 20.8% for Canola, No. 2 Canada and 20.0% for Canola, No. 3 Canada. Average protein seed content observed for Canola, No.1 Canada in 2018 was higher than the one observed in 2017 (20.1%). This is higher than the 5-year average (20.2%) (Table 1, Figure 6). Protein content of individual producer samples ranged from 14.9 to 28.9% for Canola, No. 1 Canada samples and from 14.1 to 25.6% for Canola, No. 2 Canada samples (Table 3). The protein contents of samples graded Canola, No. 3 Canada and Canola, Sample Canada ranged from 16.00 to 24.1% and 17.7 to 23.1% (average 21.0%), respectively.

Seed protein averages of Canola, No. 1 Canada commercially clean exports were 21.1% in December 2017 and 21.0% in the August-November 2018 exports (Table 6). Protein content averages for the actual shipping season are higher than what was observed for last shipping season (20.4% for August-July 2018).

The 2018 protein content calculated to an oil-free meal at 12% moisture basis is 39.1%, which is significantly higher than what was observed in 2017 (38.0%) and for the 5 year average (37.8%) (Table 1, Figure 7). The calculated protein content of the oil-free meal (100% defatted at 12% moisture) was much higher in Alberta-Peace River (40.1%) than in Saskatchewan (38.8%) and in Manitoba (38.9%). Trading rules for the North American sale of canola meal requires that calculations for protein claims must be reported on a 12% moisture basis. To enable comparison according to the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association’s meal trading rules, the Canadian Grain Commission is reporting the protein of oil-free meal at 12% moisture (Table 1, Figure 7) instead of the 8.5% moisture used for the seeds. It is to be understood that the reported value is the maximum meal protein content that could be obtained when a crushing plant is able to extract 100% of the oil from the seeds.

Commercially clean exports of Canola, No. 1 Canada, had a calculated meal protein content average for the oil-free meal of 38.3 (12.0% moisture) in December 2018. The meal protein content average for the August-November 2018 exports was 38.2% (12% moisture). These results are higher than what was observed during last shipping season, the average being 37.9% (12% moisture) for commercially clean exports of Canola, No. 1 from August 2017 to July 2018 (Table 6).

It is expected that the meal protein content of Canadian exports will be higher than what was observed during last year shipping season.