Quality of Canadian Soybean, oilseed-type 2018

4. Oil and protein content

The average protein content was 38.9% on dry basis (equivalent at 33.8% at 13% moisture) in 2018, higher than what was observed last year (38.6% on dry basis or 33.6% at 13% moisture) but lower than the 5-year (2013 to 2017) average of 39.6% (equivalent at 34.5% at 13% moisture). Samples from the Maritimes and central Canada showed a higher protein content than from western Canada; 40.1% for the Maritimes, 39.4% for central Canada and 37.3% for western Canada. For all grades combined, the protein content of individual producer samples ranged from 33.1% (or 28.8 at 13% moisture) to 43.9% (38.2 at 13% moisture). Figure 4 shows the protein content trend since 2006 between eastern (Québec, Ontario and Maritimes) and western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta). Western averages have been consistently lower than eastern averages since 2006. Western yearly averages also show higher yearly variability when compared eastern averages.

The average oil content was 22.2% dry basis (or 19.3% at 13% moisture) for soybean graded No. 1 and No. 2 Canada higher than what was observed in 2017 at 20.9% (or 18.2% at 13% moisture) and the 5-year average of 21.2% (or 18.4% at 13% moisture) (Tables 1 and 3). There were noticeable difference between the averages of soybean No. 1 and No. 2 Canada between the different provinces, with samples from Saskatchewan (21.0% dry basis, 18.2% 13% moisture) having the lowest oil content average than those from Quebec (22.2% dry basis or 19.3% at 13% moisture) (Table 3). All grades combined the oil content of individual samples ranged from 16.9% (14.7% at 13% moisture) to 25.6% (22.3% at 13% moisture) on dry basis. Figure 6 shows the oil content trend since 2006 for eastern, western and all of Canada.

Figure 5 presents the protein content of fully defatted soybean meal. The protein content of the fully defatted soybean meal from western Canada is lower than the protein content of the samples from the east. This difference reflects the protein content difference between the two sets of samples.

Canadian averages have been following eastern averages as up to now Ontario produced over 50% of the Canadian soybean. There is a marked difference between the eastern and western averages for seed protein and oil contents (Figures 4 and 6). Typically, there is an inverse relationship between oil and protein content for Canadian soybeans (as all oilseeds), the higher the oil content lower the protein, however this year both protein and oil contents increased when compared to 2017 averages.

Environmental growing conditions are usually responsible for year-to-year variations whereas genetic (varietal differences) is usually responsible of trends over several years. The combination of genetics and environmental growing conditions are responsible for the east-west differences. Currently breeding is primarily looking at yield and other agronomic factors, so quality factors such as oil or protein contents are not taken into account when registering new soybean varieties in Canada.

Figure 4. Protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

• Details

  Protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

  Region	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
  Western Canada	36.0	35.5	37.8	37.0	37.4	36.5	36.4	39.6	37.3	38.1	38.7	37.1	41.4
  Eastern Canada	40.6	40.6	41.0	40.5	41.0	39.1	40.1	40.5	40.5	40.1	40.6	39.6	-
  Canada	39.9	39.8	40.3	39.7	39.9	38.1	39.3	40.2	39.6	39.6	40.1	38.6	41.4

Figure 5. Defatted meal protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

• Details

  Defatted meal protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

  Region	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
  Western Canada	46.88	45.40	48.34	47.44	47.73	47.34	46.65	50.17	46.96	48.29	48.86	47.14	47.58
  Eastern Canada	51.49	52.03	52.28	51.10	52.11	49.76	51.25	51.21	51.24	51.15	52.05	49.94	50.77
  Canada	50.78	50.93	51.43	50.26	50.69	48.80	50.26	50.95	50.06	50.45	51.21	48.80	50.00

Figure 6. Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

• Details

  Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

  Region	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
  Western Canada	23.20	21.80	21.80	22.0	21.57	22.90	21.98	20.98	20.57	21.10	20.80	21.30	21.60
  Eastern Canada	21.14	21.95	21.59	20.71	21.25	21.37	21.82	21.00	20.96	21.60	22.00	20.70	22.40
  Canada	21.47	21.93	21.64	21.09	21.35	21.97	21.85	21.00	20.90	21.50	21.70	20.90	22.40

Figure 7. Oil iodine value averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

• Details

  Oil iodine value averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2018

  Region	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
  Western Canada	23.2	21.8	21.8	22.0	21.6	22.9	22.0	21.0	20.6	21.1	20.8	21.3	20.2
  Eastern Canada	21.1	21.9	21.6	20.7	21.2	21.4	21.8	21.0	21.0	21.6	22.0	20.7	-
  Canada	21.5	21.9	21.6	21.1	21.4	22.0	21.9	21.0	20.9	21.5	21.7	20.9	20.2