Quality of western Canadian canola 2021

Protein content

The average protein content of canola seeds (%, 8.5% moisture) and the calculated protein content of oil-free meal (12% moisture) from 2000 to 2021 is presented in Figures 10a and Figure 10b, respectively. The average crude protein content was 24.0% for Canola, No. 1 Canada, 24.6% for Canola, No. 2, Canada, and 26.0% for Canola, No. 3 Canada (Table 2). The lowest protein content was found in samples graded Canola, Sample Canada Canadian Grain Commission 16 Quality of western Canadian canola 2021 at 23.7% (Table 2). Average protein seed content for Canola, No. 1 Canada in 2021 was a record high, much higher than the 2020 average (20.8%) and the 5-year average of 20.5% (Table 1 and Figure 10a). Protein content of individual producer samples ranged from 16.4% to 30.5% for Canola, No. 1 Canada and from 17.7% to 29.7% for Canola, No. 2 Canada. The protein content of Canola, No. 3 Canada and Canola, Sample Canada samples ranged from 19.1% to 28.1% and 20.1% to 26.8%, and averaged 26.0% and 23.7%, respectively (Table 2).

Research has shown that there is a strong inverse relationship between oil content and protein content in canola seeds. In 2021, seed oil content was 2.8% less than in 2020 and seed protein content concurrently increased by 3.2% compared to 2020.

The average seed protein content of Canola, No. 1 Canada CC exports was 23.9% for December 2021 and 23.6% for August to November 2021 (Table 4). Average protein content for this shipping season (August to December 2021) was higher than that for last year’s shipping season (20.9% for August 2020 to July 2021), which is consistent with the 2021 canola protein content of harvest samples (Table 4).

The calculated meal protein content, on an oil-free basis, is the maximum protein content of a theoretical meal that would be obtained if a crushing plant was able to extract 100% of the oil from the seeds. In 2021, the protein content calculated on an oil-free meal at 12% moisture was 42.0%. This is significantly higher than the 2020 value of 38.6% and the 5-year average of 38.3% (Table 1 and Figure 10b). The calculated protein content of the oil-free meal at 12% moisture was highest for samples from Saskatchewan (42.3%), followed by Alberta-Peace River (41.9%) and Manitoba (41.7%).

CC exports of Canola, No. 1 Canada had a calculated average meal protein content (oil-free, 12% moisture) of 41.0% and 41.5% for August to November 2021 and December 2021, respectively. These results are higher than the value of 38.2% determined for the last shipping season (August 2020 to July 2021) for CC exports of Canola, No. 1 Canada (Table 4).

Figure 10a  Protein content of seed (%, 8.5% moisture) for Canola, No. 1 Canada

Figure 10a Protein content of seed (%, 8.5% moisture) for Canola, No. 1 Canada

  • Details
    Figure 10a  Protein content of seed (%, 8.5% moisture) for Canola, No. 1 Canada
    Year Protein content (%)
    2000 21.0
    2001 22.3
    2002 23.2
    2003 21.5
    2004 21.5
    2005 20.5
    2006 21.0
    2007 21.7
    2008 20.8
    2009 19.9
    2010 20.1
    2011 19.6
    2012 21.3
    2013 19.8
    2014 20.2
    2015 20.7
    2016 20.1
    2017 20.1
    2018 21.1
    2019 20.4
    2020 20.8
    2021 24.0

Figure 10b  Protein content of the meal (% oil-free basis, 12% moisture) for Canola, No. 1 Canada

Figure 10b Protein content of the meal (% oil-free basis, 12% moisture) for Canola, No. 1 Canada

  • Details
    Figure 10b  Protein content of the meal (% oil-free basis, 12% moisture) for Canola, No. 1 Canada
    Year Protein content (%)
    2000 38.3
    2001 40.2
    2002 41.7
    2003 41.2
    2004 39.3
    2005 38.3
    2006 39.5
    2007 39.6
    2008 38.7
    2009 37.2
    2010 37.5
    2011 37.3
    2012 39.0
    2013 37.2
    2014 37.5
    2015 38.2
    2016 37.4
    2017 38.0
    2018 39.1
    2019 38.3
    2020 38.6
    2021 42.0