Conversion of Canola Meal into a High-Protein Feed Additive via Solid-State Fungal Incubation Process

The study goal was to determine the optimal fungal culture to reduce glucosinolates (GLS), fiber, and residual sugars while increasing the protein content and nutritional value of canola meal. Solid-state incubation conditions were used to enhance filamentous growth of the fungi. Flask trials were performed using 50 % moisture content hexane-extracted (HE) or cold-pressed (CP) canola meal with incubation for 168 h at 30 A degrees C. Incubation on HE canola meal Trichoderma reesei (NRRL-3653) achieved the greatest increase in protein content (23 %), while having the lowest residual levels of sugar (8 % w/w) and GLS (0.4 mu M/g). Incubation on CP canola meal Trichoderma reesei (NRRL-3653), A. pullulans (NRRL-58522), and A. pullulans (NRRL-Y-2311-1) resulted in the greatest improvement in protein content (22.9, 16.9 and 15.4 %, respectively), while reducing total GLS content from 60.6 to 1.0, 3.2 and 10.7 mu M/g, respectively. HE and CP canola meal GLS levels were reduced to 65.5 and 50.7 % by thermal treatments while solid-state microbial conversion further reduced GLS up to 99 and 98 %, respectively. Fiber levels increased due to the concentration effect of removing oligosaccharides and GLS.