An experiment (factorial 3×2) was conducted in growing pigs to
measure the Digestible Energy (DE) content and estimate the Net Energy (NE) content of 3 different Canola Meal (CM): yellow B. napus (YBN); black B. napus (BBN) and yellow B. junceae (BJ) that were
toasted (regular flakes) or not (white flakes). A basal diet and 6 CM-based
diets (2/3 basal diet, 1/3 CM) were prepared. Forty-two growing pigs (28 kg; 6
per treatment) were kept in metabolic cages for 18 d and their faeces totally
collected for the last 10 d. The digestibilities (DM, N and energy) and DE and
NE content were measured. The NE content was estimated by means of
prediction equations based on the DE content and chemical composition of
the CM. Differences in the ‘CM type’ effect were observed; the YBN
presenting higher DM and energy digestibilities than BBN (P < 0.05). This could be ascribed to a lower NDF content (162 vs 217 g/kg, respectively) of the yellow-seeded canolas. A higher DE and NE content was observed for YBN as compared to BBN and BJ (P = 0.007). No difference was, however, observed for the 'CM type x flake' interaction or a flake effect (P > 0.05).