Abstract

Background:
One possible method to improve ruminant nutrient utilization is heat treatment of feed ingredients, such as canola seed and its meal, to reduce ruminal degradation of proteins and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA).

Aim:
The study evaluate the impact of heat treatment of canola seed and its meal on nutrients degradation, ruminal biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids, and rumen liquor parameters.

Methods:
Four degradability trials were conducted using rumen simulation technique (Rusitec) with four vessels. Untreated whole canola seeds (UWCS), heated whole canola seeds (HWCS), untreated canola meal (UCM), and heated canola meal (HCM) at 127 °C for 15 min were used as four treatments in four separate trials.

Results:
Heat treatment of whole canola seed and its meal decreased the rumen degradability of most nutrients, especially crude protein and crude fat, and reduced the rumen ammonia concentration. Moreover, the heat treatment of whole canola seed decreased the rumen biohydrogenation of mono unsaturated FA, polyunsaturated FA, and total long chain fatty acids contents. Heat-treated canola seed and meal had an increase in the total volatile fatty acids content (especially acetate, propionate, and iso-valerate) of the rumen fluid when compared to the untreated groups.

Conclusion:
From the obtained results it could be concluded that the heat treatment of whole canola seed and its meal was effective in protecting the dietary crude protein from rumen degradation, and also the unsaturated fatty acids from ruminal biohydrogenation. Heat treatment increase the rumen bypass of both amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids from canola seeds and meals, which are essential in improving the productive performance of ruminants.

Key words: Heat treatment, Canola seed, Fatty acids, Biohydrogenation, Rumen bypass protein, Rumen, Rusitec