GIFSQ Tools · Module 5 — Cereal, Grain, Flour & Milling Technology · Tool 85 of 500
Damage grading from a kernel count. Enter the kernels examined and the count in each damage class to get the percentage damaged, sprouted, and heat-damaged, plus the total damage and the grade call.
Try sample values — fills the form with the worked example below.
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Total damage (%)
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Sprouted (%)
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Sound kernels (%)
Equation: Damage % (each class) = kernels in the class ÷ kernels examined × 100. Total damage % = (damaged + sprouted + heat-damaged) ÷ kernels examined × 100. Sound kernels % = 100 − total damage %.
Method: Visual damage assessment on a counted subsample, as in Canadian Grain Commission grading for wheat: kernels are spread, sorted into sound, damaged, sprouted, and heat-damaged classes, and each class is counted. Grade bands used here: ≤ 2 % total damage sound, 2–5 % moderate, above 5 % downgraded.
Assumptions: the counted subsample represents the lot; each kernel falls in exactly one class; the grader applies the class definitions consistently.
Limitations: visual grading is subjective between graders; internal damage (for example, hidden sprouting) is not counted; a small count is noisy — 500 kernels is the practical minimum.
Rounding: all percentages to 2 decimal places. Intermediate values are not rounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Method: Visual damage assessment on a counted subsample, as in Canadian Grain Commission grading for wheat: kernels are spread, sorted into sound, damaged, sprouted, and heat-damaged classes, and each class is counted. Grade bands used here: ≤ 2 % total damage sound, 2–5 % moderate, above 5 % downgraded.
Assumptions: the counted subsample represents the lot; each kernel falls in exactly one class; the grader applies the class definitions consistently.
Limitations: visual grading is subjective between graders; internal damage (for example, hidden sprouting) is not counted; a small count is noisy — 500 kernels is the practical minimum.
Rounding: all percentages to 2 decimal places. Intermediate values are not rounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Worked example: 500 kernels examined: 15 damaged, 5 sprouted, 2 heat-damaged. Damage = 15 ÷ 500 × 100 = 3.00 %; sprouted = 1.00 %; heat-damaged = 0.40 %; total damage = 22 ÷ 500 × 100 = 4.40 %; sound kernels = 95.60 % — moderate damage.
Enter values above to see results.
Damage classes follow cereal grading practice: sprouted kernels show a sprout or a split germ; heat-damaged kernels are darkened through the endosperm. Count at least 500 kernels. Tool 85 of 500 — GIFSQ Tool 85 of 500 — GIFSQ
