Canola Meal

Oil mills crush canola seeds for cooking oil and other uses. Removing the oil leaves a meal rich in protein and fiber that feed makers buy as a separate ingredient.^3,4

1. 01 // Source Canola seeds Oil mills use seeds bred to contain less erucic acid and fewer glucosinolates than older rapeseed varieties.
2. 02 // Process Pressed The seeds are cleaned, flaked, heated and pressed to remove part of their oil.
3. 03 // Process Oil removed Most commercial meal undergoes solvent extraction to remove more oil, followed by heating to remove the solvent.
4. 04 // Output Canola meal The remaining dry meal reaches the kibble plant with substantial protein and seed hull fiber.

1. 01

   Adds plant protein

   Canola meal contributes protein to the recipe and its guaranteed analysis. It works alongside other proteins; the bag's crude protein figure does not identify which ingredient supplied it.^4,5

2. 02

   Adds seed fiber

   Seed hulls remain in the meal after oil extraction. They bring fiber along with the protein, which formulators must account for when deciding how much meal to use.^3,4

3. 03

   Uses an oil leftover

   Oil production creates meal at scale. Feed buyers compare its protein and price with other meals, although lower protein concentration and shipping affect that comparison.^3,6

How much A 2024 adult dog trial fed it at 5% and 10% of the diet, and a 1976 kennel trial fed 20% rapeseed meal for a year.^1,7

1. Brands say

   Canola meal adds usable protein to dog food

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In a short trial with 8 dogs per diet, whole diet protein digestibility stayed above 84% when canola meal replaced pea protein at 5% or 10%. The trial did not measure canola protein alone.^1,4

2. Brands say

   Dogs like canola meal as much as pea protein

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   In 2-day, two-bowl tests with 30 dogs per comparison, the canola diets were eaten about as readily as the control. One short test of chicken based recipes cannot show that every canola meal or dog will respond alike.¹

3. Owners say

   Canola meal harms a dog's thyroid

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A pig trial found thyroid changes as meal rose from 0 to 40%. In dogs, a 1976 study fed 20% rapeseed meal for a year and found no abnormal thyroid values. Modern canola carries fewer glucosinolates still.^2,3,7

4. Critics say

   Canola meal is just cheap filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Solvent extracted meal averages 41% protein on a dry matter basis. Diets containing up to 10% had similar digestibility and stool scores in a short dog trial. Price matters to manufacturers, but the meal has a nutritional job.^1,4,6

5. Critics say

   More canola meal always lowers food quality

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A 1976 study fed dogs 20% rapeseed meal for a year with no intake or reproduction problems, and nitrogen digestibility ran 75 to 85%. The 2024 trial saw no penalty at 10%. Fiber still matters in the full recipe.^1,4,7