Abstract
A 3-wk study was conducted at a commercial feed mill in northwest Iowa to determine where the formation of fines occurs during pelleted feed manufacturing and if differences are present in nutrient composition between fines and pellets. During the study, 1,781pelleted feed samples were collected from 4 swine and 2 turkey diets. Samples were collected from 4 different locations throughout the mill to determine progression of fines formation during the manufacturing process. These locations included the pellet mill, pellet cooler, fat coater, and at load-out. Samples were taken on 7 to 10 different runs for each diet throughout the 3-wk period. Pellet durability index (PDI) and percentage fines were determined for all samples, and nutrient analysis was determined on a pooled sample from each run within diet. Nutrient analysis was determined via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) at the processing site and via wet chemistry at a commercial lab.
Highlights
Pellet quality and its subsequent effects on pig performance have been extensively studied in recent years
A 3-wk study was conducted at a commercial feed mill in northwest Iowa to determine where the formation of fines occurs during pelleted feed manufacturing and if differences are present in nutrient composition between fines and pellets
Pellet durability index (PDI) and percentage fines were determined for all samples, and nutrient analysis was determined on a pooled sample from each run within diet
Summary
Pellet quality and its subsequent effects on pig performance have been extensively studied in recent years. Nemechek et al (20125,6) found that the percentage of fines should be minimized to achieve the maximum benefit from pelleting both nursery and finishing pig diets. When pellets exit a pellet mill, they are not immediately loaded onto a truck for delivery, but instead take a much longer path through the feed mill. Pellets exiting a pellet mill must remain intact through a cooling process, fat application process, and through load-out. Within each of these steps are various elevators and conveyors that move the pellets throughout the mill. The path that the pellets must travel through the mill is suspected to damage pellets and increase the percentage of fines; few studies have evaluated the pathways within a mill that can cause more or less damage to a pellet. If the formation of fines can be better understood, feed mills might be able to implement strategies to reduce pellet damage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
