The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heat treatment alone or in combination with the addition of lignosulfonate (LSO3) on canola cake protein, lysine, and methionine degradation in the rumen. Cold-pressed canola cake was left untreated, heated at 90, 110, 130, or 150 degrees C, or processed with 5% of LSO3 (in dry matter) and then heated. Effective rumen degradability of crude protein (CP), lysine, and methionine was less for treated than untreated canola cake (P < 0.05) and decreased with increased temperature of heating, but particularly when canola cake was heated at 150 degrees C (quadratic, P < 0.01). In general, effective rumen degradability of CP, lysine, and methionine was less for canola cake heated at 130 degrees C in combination with LSO3 compared with canola cake heat treated only (quadratic x LSO3 interaction, P <= 0.07). Results of this study indicate that high temperature heating (130 degrees C or greater for 60 min) may be necessary to protect canola cake protein from degradation in the rumen, and the combination of heat treatment and LSO3 may be more effective in protecting canola cake protein, lysine, and methionine from degradation in the rumen than the use of heat treatment only.