Saskatoon – Dr. Pascal Leterme, Research Scientist in Nutrition at Prairie Swine Centre, is new to western Canada but not the swine research community. Although he only joined the Centre’s research team in August 2005, he has already garnered significant support for a new research effort in optimizing the use of canola for swine.

Dr. David Hickling, Vice President of Canola Council of Canada, which is funding the project in cooperation with the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, underlines the importance of this novel research approach, “Increasing the energy value of canola is important to ensuring pork producers make the best use of this ingredient in western Canada. This research will help us define the areas of greatest opportunity to improve the product through plant breeding, processing or the use of dietary enzymes.”

“This research will provide us with significant insight into how the energy from canola is utilized by the pig”, notes Dr. Leterme. “Firstly we will be looking at the difference between how young growing pigs utilize energy differently from adult sows. We believe that there is not one energy value but two for canola depending on the maturity of the animal’s digestive system”. Dr. Leterme notes this approach, using a sophisticated Net Energy system, could have a significant impact on the efficiency and cost of practical farm diets.
“Secondly, we want to look at the whole seed, rather than just processed canola meal as an energy and protein source for swine. This approach will contribute to our understanding of the nutritional impact of crushing canola and whether there is an opportunity to increase energy content for the pig.” This project also provides the opportunity to use whole canola seed as an ingredient.

Mr. Roy Button, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Canola Development Council, reinforces why they are funding this type of research. “Saskatchewan produces 40% of Canada’s Canola and is located in the heart of western Canada’s pig industry with a third of the nation’s pork producers within easy access.
“Canola seed is 58% meal and 42% oil, knowing the Net Energy of this product improves the value of the meal and thus the value of the seed to our growers.”

Prairie Swine Centre Inc., located in Saskatoon, is a non-profit research corporation affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, and is recognized globally for its contributions to practical, applied science in pork production in the disciplines of Nutrition, Engineering and Animal Behaviour.