Expeller Barrel Dry Heat and Moist Heat Pressure Duration Induce Changes in Canola Meal Protein for Ruminant Utilisation

Simple Summary Canola meal, a by-product of oil production from canola seed, is a source of protein commonly incorporated into dairy and feedlot rations. Processing conditions and pressure treatments can alter the quality of protein in canola meal. In this study, the impact of expeller dry heat and moist heat pressure duration time on general nutritional properties, in vitro protein degradability, Maillard reaction product formation, and molecular and microscopic structural characteristics of canola meal were investigated. Increased dry heat temperature rapidly increased digestible protein and non-protein nitrogen content, and constricted amide II secondary structure. Increased moist heat pressure treatment duration promoted browning, and the conversion of protein to more intermediately and slowly degradable forms. Dry heat and moist heat pressure affected meal protein solubility and protein and lipid-related functional groups. Moist heat pressure fragmented canola meal into enzyme-resistant aggregates with crevices containing oil bodies. Induced changes may impact the supply of protein and amino acids and subsequently the yield and composition (protein and lipid) of milk produced by dairy cows. These findings benefit producers of canola meal by further describing the effects of processing and treatment conditions on protein characteristics, particularly those which affect the production potential of ruminants fed canola meal as a source of protein. Abstract To improve the protein nutritional quality of canola (Brassica napus L.) meal, further investigation of the effects of processing conditions and post-production treatments is desirable. The impact of barrel dry heat temperature (20 °C (cold press) and 100 °C (expeller)) and moist heat pressure (MHP) duration time on general nutritional properties, Maillard reaction product (MRP) formation, in vitro protein degradability, and molecular and microscopic structural characteristics of canola meals were investigated. Increased MHP duration reduced (p < 0.05) dry matter, soluble protein, rapidly degradable protein, yellowness (early MRP), whiteness (late MRPs), absorbance at 294 nm (intermediate MRPs), and amide I; and increased (p < 0.05) non-protein N, neutral detergent fibre, neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (CP), intermediately and slowly degradable protein, in vitro effective CP degradability, redness, degree of colour change, and browning. Increased dry heat temperature reduced (p < 0.01) CP and rapidly degradable protein, constricted amide II, reduced (p < 0.05) protein solubility in 0.5% KOH and increased (p < 0.05) acid-detergent fibre and intermediate MRPs. Browning index and redness exhibited potential as rapid indicators of effective CP degradability and soluble protein, respectively. Dry heat and MHP altered (p < 0.05) lipid-related functional groups. Dry heat affected napin solubility, and MHP altered cruciferin and napin solubility. Application of MHP induced the formation of proteolysis-resistant protein aggregates with crevices containing oil bodies. Induced changes may impact the supply of proteins and amino acids and subsequently the yield and composition (protein and lipid) of milk produced by dairy cows.