The breakthrough came in a joint research project conducted by Pork CRC and the Australian Oilseeds Federation and could save the industry more than $450,000 annually through using canola meal more efficiently, reports FOODweek Online.

Using near infrared (NIR) technology, the research developed rapid analysis technology to assess how well pigs digest canola meal, allowing the industry to rapidly and cheaply assess meal quality and value.

“This allows canola crushing plants to use on-site analysis to assess the effects of oil seed crushing conditions on canola meal protein digestibility,“ project coordinator, John Spragg, said.

“It means suppliers of canola meal will be able to provide higher quality, more consistent meals.

“The technology lets feed manufacturers and pig producers assess canola meal quality and adjust feed formulations to account for lysine availability,“ he said.

The project has already paid off, through supplying meal quality data to oilseed processors and Pork CRC is initiating a commercialisation plan for the technology with NIR calibrations for reactive lysine being made available to industry.