Peas: Determination of dockage

Chapter 16. Peas (PDF, 639 KB)

Definitions

Dockage is assessed and recorded to the nearest 0.1%.

Dockage is defined under the Canada Grain Act as “any material intermixed with a parcel of grain, other than kernels of grain of a standard of quality fixed by or under this Act for a grade of that grain, that must and can be separated from the parcel of grain before that grade can be assigned to the grain”. Dockage is removed by following the cleaning procedures described in this section of the guide.

The sample as it arrives is referred to as the uncleaned or dirty sample. Its weight is the gross weight of the sample. Dockage is assessed on the gross weight of the sample.

Dockage not reported

Important: Dockage is not reported for

  • Peas, Sample Canada (colour or variety) Account Fireburnt
  • Peas Sample Salvage
  • Peas, Sample Condemned
  • Feed Peas, Canada
  • Unofficial samples declared as processed

Normal cleaning procedures

Important: Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances.

  1. Using a Boerner-type divider, divide the uncleaned sample to obtain a representative portion.
    • Official samples shall be at least 1 kg.
    • Unofficial samples shall be at least 1 kg.
  2. Sieve portions of approximately 250 grams at a time.
  3. Sieve the sample over the round-hole sieve that will achieve maximum removal of dockage material, including coarse vegetable matter, grasshoppers, other insects and insect parts. Use one of the following sieves:
    • No. 20 round-hole
    • No. 21 round-hole
    • No. 22 round-hole
    • No. 24 round-hole

    Important: Return all pieces of peas or whole peas that remain on top of the round-hole sieve to the sample.

  4. Sieve the sample over the slotted sieve that will achieve maximum removal of splits with minimum loss of whole peas. Use one of the following sieves:
    • No. 8 slotted
    • No. 9 slotted
    • No. 11 slotted
  5. Handpick all coarse vegetable matter such as pods, stems, straw, thistle tops from the sieved sample.
  6. Handpick all grasshoppers, other insects and insect parts from the sieved sample.

Composition of dockage

  • All material removed by sieving or handpicking, including pea hulls, as defined in Normal cleaning procedures.
  • Split peas removed through sieving. Split peas removed by sieves are handpicked from the dockage material and calculated as a percentage based on the gross weight of the sample. This portion is recorded as the percentage of splits in dockage