A digital illustration of a pig enjoying air-classified canola meal. The image shows the process of air-classification and its benefits for swine diets.

Canola Meal's Digestibility Secrets: Unlocking Better Nutrition for Pigs

Soraya Malik in Science & Nature September 2025 • 5 min read.

"Exploring the Nutritional Powerhouse: How Air-Classification is Revolutionizing Canola Meal for Swine Diets."

Canola meal (CM), a byproduct of the canola oil extraction process, is a valuable protein source in swine diets worldwide. However, its relatively high fiber content has often limited its effectiveness. Recent research, as detailed in the study 'Nutrient digestibility of solvent-extracted Brassica napus and Brassica juncea canola meals and their air-classified fractions fed to ileal-cannulated grower pigs,' has shed light on how to unlock the full nutritional potential of CM. This article delves into the innovative methods used to improve CM's digestibility and the resulting benefits for pig nutrition.

The core challenge with CM lies in its fiber content, particularly in the seed hull, which hinders nutrient absorption. The study explores a technique called air-classification, which separates CM into fractions based on particle size and density. This process effectively creates a low-fiber, light-particle fraction and a high-fiber, heavy-particle fraction, each with distinct nutritional profiles. The research investigates how these fractions, along with different types of canola meal (Brassica napus and Brassica juncea), impact the digestibility of energy and amino acids in pigs.

This article will explore the research findings on how these advancements in canola meal processing significantly impact pig nutrition. By improving digestibility, CM can become a more effective and efficient feed ingredient, ultimately benefiting pig health, growth, and the economics of swine production. We'll examine the implications of these findings, highlighting the potential of air-classified CM to revolutionize swine nutrition.

Understanding the Impact of Air-Classification on Canola Meal

A digital illustration of a pig enjoying air-classified canola meal. The image shows the process of air-classification and its benefits for swine diets.

Air classification is a dry fractionation process that utilizes streams of air to separate the seed components of CM based on their size and density. This process is particularly effective in segregating the seed hull, which is high in fiber, from the more digestible cotyledon. The light-particle fraction, which is lower in fiber, results in enhanced digestibility, while the heavy-particle fraction, enriched with fiber, exhibits lower digestibility.

The study compared the digestibility of CM from two canola species, Brassica napus and Brassica juncea, along with their air-classified fractions. The experiment involved feeding these different CM types to ileal-cannulated grower pigs and carefully measuring the digestibility of key nutrients. The results revealed significant differences in the digestibility of energy and amino acids, offering critical insights into how air classification and canola species affect the nutritional value of the meal.

Air classification separates CM into a light-particle, low-fiber fraction and a heavy-particle, high-fiber fraction.
Brassica juncea CM and its light-particle fraction showed improved energy and amino acid digestibility.
The light-particle fraction exhibited enhanced digestibility of essential nutrients.

The researchers determined the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of several key nutrients. Notably, the ATTD of gross energy (GE) and digestible energy (DE) were significantly higher in B. juncea CM compared to B. napus CM. Additionally, the light-particle fraction demonstrated higher DE values than the parent CM, indicating that air classification effectively enhances energy availability. These findings highlight how air classification and the choice of canola species can optimize the nutritional value of CM in pig diets.

The Future of Swine Nutrition: Embracing Air-Classified Canola Meal

The study's findings highlight the significant potential of air-classified CM to improve swine nutrition. By enhancing the digestibility of energy and amino acids, this innovative approach not only optimizes feed efficiency but also supports better growth and health in pigs. This research provides valuable insights for nutritionists and feed producers, paving the way for more effective and sustainable swine feeding strategies. As the industry evolves, embracing air-classified CM could become a standard practice, ensuring both economic and nutritional benefits for pig farmers.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2527/jas.2014-7451, Alternate LINK

Title: Nutrient Digestibility Of Solvent-Extracted Brassica Napus And Brassica Juncea Canola Meals And Their Air-Classified Fractions Fed To Ileal-Cannulated Grower Pigs1

Subject: Genetics

Journal: Journal of Animal Science

Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

Authors: X. Zhou, R. T. Zijlstra, E. Beltranena

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is canola meal and why is it commonly used in swine diets?

Canola meal (CM) is a byproduct of the canola oil extraction process, serving as a valuable protein source in swine diets globally. While it's a good source of protein, its effectiveness has been somewhat limited due to its relatively high fiber content. Recent research focuses on improving CM's digestibility to unlock its full nutritional potential for pigs, particularly by addressing the fiber content that can hinder nutrient absorption. Methods like air-classification are being explored to enhance its nutritional value.

How does air-classification improve the nutritional value of canola meal for pigs?

Air-classification is a dry fractionation process that separates canola meal (CM) components based on size and density, effectively segregating the high-fiber seed hull from the more digestible cotyledon. This process yields a light-particle, low-fiber fraction with enhanced digestibility and a heavy-particle, high-fiber fraction with lower digestibility. By using the light-particle fraction, pigs can more efficiently absorb energy and amino acids, leading to better nutrition and growth.

What were the key findings regarding the digestibility of different types of canola meal in the study?

The study revealed that Brassica juncea canola meal (CM) and its light-particle fraction showed improved energy and amino acid digestibility compared to Brassica napus CM. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of gross energy (GE) and digestible energy (DE) were significantly higher in B. juncea CM. The light-particle fraction consistently demonstrated higher DE values than the parent CM, highlighting that air classification effectively enhances energy availability.

What are the implications of using air-classified canola meal for the future of swine nutrition?

The use of air-classified canola meal (CM) has significant implications for swine nutrition. By enhancing the digestibility of energy and amino acids, it optimizes feed efficiency, supports better growth and health in pigs, and provides valuable insights for nutritionists and feed producers. Embracing air-classified CM could become standard practice, ensuring both economic and nutritional benefits for pig farmers, paving the way for more effective and sustainable swine feeding strategies. Air-classification has the potential to revolutionize swine nutrition by addressing the limitations posed by fiber content in traditional CM.

Could you elaborate on the distinction between Brassica napus and Brassica juncea canola meal and how it affects digestibility in swine diets?

Brassica napus and Brassica juncea are two different species of canola, each yielding canola meal (CM) with varying nutritional profiles. Research indicates that CM derived from Brassica juncea demonstrates superior digestibility of energy and amino acids compared to that from Brassica napus. This difference can be attributed to variations in fiber composition and structure between the two species. By selecting Brassica juncea CM or utilizing air-classified fractions, swine diets can be optimized to enhance nutrient absorption and utilization, leading to improved growth performance and overall health in pigs. The study also showed that B. juncea light-particle fraction has improved digestibility.