Quality of Canadian Soybean, oilseed-type 2019

4. Oil and protein content

Figure 3. Seed protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019


Historic soybean production data in Canada,2006-19
  • Details
    Figure 3: Seed protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019
    2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
    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 37.3 36.8
    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 39.4 39.3
    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 38.9 38.4

The average protein content was 38.4% on dry basis (equivalent at 33.4% at 13% moisture) in 2019, lower than last year’s results (38.9% on dry basis or 33.8% at 13% moisture) and lower than the 5-year (2014-18) average of 39.4% (equivalent at 34.3% at 13% moisture). Samples from central Canada showed a higher protein content than from the Maritimes and western Canada; 39.5% for central Canada, 36.7% for the Maritimes and 36.8% for western Canada. For all grades combined, the protein content of individual producer samples ranged from 31.5% (or 27.4 at 13% moisture) to 44.4% (38.6 at 13% moisture). Figure 3 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 21.1% on dry basis (18.4% at 13% moisture) for soybean graded No. 1 and No. 2 Canada, lower than what was observed in 2018 at 22.2% (or 19.3% at 13% moisture), and lower than the 5-year average of 21.4% (or 18.7% at 13% moisture) (Tables 1 and 3). All grades combined the oil content of individual samples ranged from 18.0% (15.7% at 13% moisture) to 25.6% (22.3% at 13% moisture) on dry basis. Figure 5 shows the oil content trend since 2006 for eastern, western and all of Canada.

Figure 4 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 3 & 5). Typically, there is an inverse relationship between oil and protein content for Canadian soybeans (as all oilseeds), the higher the oil content the lower the protein, however this year both protein and oil contents decreased when compared to 2018 averages.

Environmental growing conditions are usually responsible for year-to-year variations whereas genetics (varietal differences) is usually responsible for 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: Defatted meal protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019

Protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean,2006-19.
  • Details
    Defatted meal protein content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019
    Region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
    Western Canada 46.9 45.4 48.3 47.4 47.7 47.3 46.7 50.2 47.0 48.3 48.9 47.1 47.6 46.5
    Eastern Canada 51.5 52.0 52.3 51.1 52.1 49.8 51.2 51.2 51.2 51.1 52.1 49.9 50.8 49.9
    Canada 50.8 50.9 51.4 50.3 50.7 48.8 50.3 50.9 50.1 50.4 51.2 48.8 50.0 48.6

Figure 5: Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019

Figure 5: Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019
  • Details
    Figure 5: Seed oil content averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019
    Region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
    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 21.6 20.9
    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 22.4 21.2
    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 22.2 21.1

Figure 6. Oil iodine value averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019

Oil iodine value averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019
  • Details
    Oil iodine value averages of Canadian oilseed type soybean, 2006 to 2019
    Region 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
    Western Canada 132.9 137.6 138.1 137.8 139.2 132.4 131.2 134.0 140.0 134.5 136.4 134.7 132.4 138.8
    Eastern Canada 138.6 132.8 135.0 137.0 133.6 136.1 132.4 134.2 136.5 133.3 132.0 138.0 133.8 138.3
    Canada 137.7 133.6 135.7 137.2 135.4 134.6 132.1 134.1 137.5 133.7 133.2 137.0 133.5 138.5
Table 3: Oil and protein contents of the oil of the 2019 soybean survey by province and grade
Province Number
of samples		 Oil ProteinFootnote 1
Mean Min. Max. Mean Min. Max.
%, in dry basis
Soybean, No. 1 Canada and Soybean No. 2 Canada
Manitoba 119 21.0 18.8 24.8 36.9 32.2 41.2
Saskatchewan 22 20.7 19.6 23.1 36.1 31.5 39.1
Western Canada 141 20.9 18.8 24.8 36.8 31.5 41.2
Ontario 184 21.3 19.2 25.6 39.4 31.8 42.8
Québec 32 20.5 18.8 23.9 40.1 36.6 44.4
Central Canada 216 21.2 18.8 25.6 39.5 31.8 44.4
Prince Edward Island 8 21.8 21.3 23.5 36.7 32.8 39.3
New Brunswick 7 20.4 19.8 22.4 36.8 33.0 39.8
Maritimes 15 21.2 19.8 23.5 36.7 33.0 39.8
Canada 372 21.1 18.8 25.6 38.4 31.5 44.4
Soybean, No. 3
Western Canada 6 19.8 18.0 22.3 37.1 32.6 39.8
Eastern CanadaFootnote 2 2 20.5 21.5 22.3 41.3 41.2 41.4
Canada 8 20.0 18.0 22.3 38.2 32.6 41.4
Soybean, No. 4
Western Canada 3 20.1 19.5 21.9 37.0 34.3 39.1
Eastern Canada 1 21.2 39.3
Canada 4 20.4 19.5 21.9 37.6 34.3 39.3
Soybean, Sample
Western Canada 2 17.7 17.5 17.9 39.9 39.5 40.2
Eastern Canada NAFootnote 3
Canada 2 17.7 17.5 17.9 39.9 39.5 40.2