How to use a chicken feed pellet machine to make high-quality chicken feed

In large-scale poultry farming practices, feed processing technology directly affects production benefits. Based on the principles of poultry nutrition and mechanical engineering parameters, this article systematically explains the selection and configuration, process optimization and quality control points of chicken feed pellet machine, and provides farms with a pellet feed production technology solution with both theoretical basis and practical value, helping to achieve the goal of refined feeding management with cost reduction and efficiency increase.

Understanding chicken feed pellet machine

Chicken feed pellet machine are professional equipment that extrude powdered feed raw materials into cylindrical pellets through high temperature and high pressure. They are mainly composed of feeders, conditioners, roller molds and cutters. According to the power type, they can be divided into electric chicken feed pellet machines (220V/380V) and diesel-powered chicken feed pellet machines, with production capacity ranging from 50 kg to 5 tons per hour. Modern chicken feed pellet machines generally use alloy steel molds, and pellet feeds of different specifications can be produced by adjusting the mold hole diameter (commonly 2.5-8mm).

The core advantages of using chicken feed pellet machine

More complete nutrition retention

The instantaneous high temperature gelatinization process increases the starch conversion rate by 15%-20%, while killing pathogens such as Salmonella. Experiments show that the vitamin retention rate of feed made by chicken feed pellet machines is 12% higher than that of powder.

Significant economic benefits

It has been verified in practice that the use of pellet feed can effectively reduce feed loss by 8%-10%, and shorten the fattening cycle by 3-5 days. Taking the scale of 2,000 laying hens as an example, the purchase of a medium-sized chicken feed pellet machine of 12,000-20,000 yuan has an investment recovery period of about 6-8 months.

Feeding management optimization

The palatability of pellet feed is improved by more than 30%, the feeding time of chickens is shortened, and the digestion and absorption rate is improved. The use of automatic feeding system and chicken feed pellet machine can reduce labor costs by 40%.

The whole process of making high-quality pellet feed

Raw material pretreatment

Corn/soybean meal and other main materials are crushed to 1-2mm particle size

Add 2%-3% oil according to the formula (to improve the lubricity of pelleting)

Water content is controlled at 14%-16% (the ball will fall apart when held by hand)

Key parameter control

There are obvious differences in the pelleting process parameters between broiler and laying hen feed: broilers are recommended to use a 3-4mm die aperture, 75-85℃ tempering temperature, and 1:8 compression ratio; laying hens are suitable for 4-5mm aperture, 65-75℃ tempering temperature, and 1:6 compression ratio.

Key points of operation

Check the chicken feed pellets before starting the machine Pellet machine lubrication system, preheat by idling for 3 minutes

Feed 10 kg bran first to “wash the mold”, wait until the material is smooth before feeding the main material

Observe the length of the pellets (recommended 8-12 mm), and control by adjusting the cutter speed

Quality judgment standard

Powder content <5% (can be tested by dropping 1 meter)

Pellet hardness 20-30N (measured by hardness tester)

Water stability >30 minutes (immersion test)

Maintenance recommendations

Clean the residual material in the pellet machine mold every week, and replace the gearbox lubricating oil every month. When the machine is shut down for a long time, operators apply food-grade anti-rust oil in the mold. They also recommend replacing the entire set of rollers every 500 tons of feed produced.