The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has approved camelina meal as an Omega-9-boosting feed ingredient for laying hens.
“This is another major step for camelina production in Canada,” said Jack Grushcow, founder and CEO of camelina developer Smart Earth Seeds, in a news release on Thursday. “This latest approval makes the crop production economics for camelina even more attractive. The more local markets we can develop for camelina meal the greater the opportunity to process locally and provide regional economic development.”
After examining research done by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Livestock Research and Extension Branch, and the University of Saskatchewan, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, the CFIA has approved the inclusion of 10 percent camelina cake in feed for egg-laying hens.
“This is good news for Canadian poultry producers, this approval ensures Canadian producers can benefit from access to a high quality protein that also contains significant quantities of Omega-3 oil,” said Rex Newkirk, Chair in Feed Processing Technology at the University of Saskatchewan.
Increasing camelina in laying hen feed resulted in “a dose-related increase in polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids and a superior balance of Omega-3:Omega-6 fatty acids in table eggs,” noted Matt Oryschak and Eduardo Beltranena, who led the layer trials at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
The CFIA approved cold-pressed, non-solvent extracted camelina meal for broiler chickens at up to 12 percent inclusion last year. Another application is going forward to approve the inclusion of camelina in dairy cattle rations.
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