How to Choose the Right Feed Machinery?

Choosing the right feed machinery means that we could do smooth work in the next process. Now, I want to share my experiece on how to choose suitable feed machinery.

1. Classification process in the feed processing would occur frequantly, and there are too many reasons can result, such as feed ingredients density differences, different components and trace and feed additives, a larger amount of the other components of the degree of mixing carrier particles is not sufficient, which is generated graded important reason. Transportation of raw materials, manufacturing processes, such as loading and unloading will cause grading, manual operation and process flow design also cause improper grading.

2. Residual contamination remaining in the feed can cause cross-contamination of the apparatus. Take appropriate measures such as process design and equipment selection, you can reduce the residual generation. In the process of design, delivery process and make full use of the form of the dispenser gravity of less horizontal transport.

3. Prior to the application of the conventional heat treatment process granulation transfer of heat treatment effect on the quality of temperature, time and steam. Quenched role is to improve the quality pellet feed, improve feed digestibility, and can destroy the material in anti-nutritional factors, raw kill harmful microorganisms that feed pellets hygiene quality control.

4. Thermal spray application can results in a loss in the heat treatment process, so the process can be quenched without the addition, and by way of the outer coating to add. These substances are added to the surface of the particles in the transmission or delivery process may cause powder particles to produce enriched material impact on the surface of the coated powder evenly distributed.

Muyang Water-drop 968 Hammer Mill

As one of biggest feed machinery manufactures, Muyang is always making its efforts to producing and developing new machines in the field. Grinding machine, as one of Muyang’s four main feed machines, is capturing important share on the market.

Muyang water-drop 968 hammer mill is with high capacity, and its water-drop shaped chamber with W-shaped secondary grinding structure and large grinding surface, capacity 25% higher. Dynamically balanced high-precision rotor and reinforced wear-proof hammers, stable running, and long service life are its another advantage. The high efficient hammer mill for most of normal- and coarse-grinding demands, particularly in feed pre-/post-grinding. The hammer mill is well accepted also as its patented screen carriages with one-step quick clamping device and fully-open sliding door, simplified screen changes, ease of labor and maintenance, and its CE standard design for human & machine safety.

Following are some pictures on the water-drop 968 hammer mill:

How to Choose the Right Fish Feed Pellet

Feed pellet is widely used in fish farming. Only choosing the high quality and right fish feed pellet mill can improve the feed utilization rate, the growth rate and the immune system to prevent diseases. So fish farmers have to learn how to choose the suitable fish feed pellet.

First, the nutrition of fish feed. The essential nutrition requirements for fish are protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals etc so the feeds for fish must contain these substances. Some breeders think the higher the protein content, the better the feed pellet. Actually it is wrong, the feed pellet quality should consider not only the protein content but also the proportion of other nutritions. Feeds containing balanced nutritions are ideal for fish normal growth. Feed pellet use various grains such as wheat, corn, bean etc as feed ingredients and can be added with protein, fishmeal, minerals and other liquid nutritions. So it can meet the nutrition needs of fish.

Second, the appearance of feed pellet. The high quality feed pellet has smooth surface and the same pellet diameter. The particle diameter for fish feeds should consider the mouth diameter of fish and should not be too big or too small. The length of feed pellet should be two times of the diameter so as to increase feed intakes and reduce feed waste.

Third, the stability in water. Fish intake feeds slowly so the feed pellet must keep the shape in water for a long time. Fish farmers can take some samples and place them in water to detect the stability before buying feed pellets for fish.

Fourth, the reliable feed pellet manufactures. The companies with large scale and good reputation have strong technology strength to ensure the the balanced nutrition and scientific feed formula. Fish farmers should purchase the feed pellets produced by reliable manufactures.

Fifth, the manufacture date of feed pellet. Feed pellets which exceed the shelf life will reduce the nutrition contents and have bad influence on fish. Fish farmers should ensure the feed pellets can be finished within the manufacture date.

When considering these factors fish farmers can choose the suitable feed pellets for fish.

China Aquaculture Industry on the Rise

According to China Aquaculture Industry Report, 2011-2012, published by Research in China, China aquatic product output in 2011 reach 56.1 million tons, a year-on-year rise of 4.4%. The disparity between seawater and freshwater products production ratio was narrowing year by year, accounting for 51.9% and 48.1% respectively in 2011.

Following the increased demand of overseas market, the export volume of China aquatic products has increased to 3.912 million tons in 2011, accompanied by an export value of US$17.79 billion, and presenting a year-on-year rise of 17.1% and 28.7%, respectively. Prawn, shellfish, tilapia, eel, large yellow croaker, crayfish, etc. are the main export varieties, sharing 49.74% of the total export value. Coastal provinces are the major exporting area, especially in Shandong and Fujian, the two provinces share a 48.8% of the total export volume. Japan, the United States, Europe and South Korea are still the major importers of China aquatic products, accounting for 86.3% of overseas market.

Driven by the expanding aquaculture scale as well as the growing demand of both domestic and export market, China aquatic product processing industry has witnessed a substantial growth to a value of RMB360.1 billion in 2011, an increase of 25.95% compared to 2010. As customers' eating habits changed, frozen aquatic product market has been more and more popular. In 2011, the China frozen product processing sector achieved revenue of RMB275.9 billion, holding for 76.6% of the entire aquatic product processing industry. However, the average gross margin of the sector during 2006-2012 is only 11%-15% due to the rising storage and transportation costs in recent years.

Muyang gets feed mill construction contract in Philippines

Muyang signed an agreement with Philipino Texicon Agriventures Corp. in July to supply a full set of machinery and building structure materials for its new extrusion aquafeed project.

The feed mill is designed to have a capacity of 4.5 -5.5 t/h, capable of producing 900,000- 960,000 bags of qualified aquafeed annually. This is the second venture of Texicon Agriventures into the feed milling industry. Its 4 t/h animal feed mill started successful operation in 2009.

Texicon Agriventures Corp., a subsidiary of Texicon Group of Companies and established in 1995, is a reliable importer and distributor of quality fertilizer and pesticide products to local and multinational agricultural companies throughout the Philippines.

Driven by the increasing consumption of fish meat due to growth in population and limitations of wild catch, Texicon is very optimistic that its extrusion aqua feed mill will further boost its annual sales.

Solution for Extrusion Aqua-feed Production

Driven by the increasing consumption of fish meat due to world population boom and the limitation of wild catch, volume growth rate of global aquaculture has been sustained at about 8% over the last 10 years, and must continuously undergo a tremendous development in order to fill the huge gap between supply and demand for the premier protein sources. This represents a divine opportunity and a promising future for the aqua-feed industry.

The unique physiology of aquatic animal is asking for special requirements in aqua-feed manufacturing technology. This article will discuss the complete solution for aqua-feed manufacturing based on Muyang's years of experience as an aqua-feed mill supplier and builder in such aquaculture regions.

1.       Requirements of aqua-feed

1) Grinding fineness: Proper particle size of ground materials can contribute to lower energy consumption of a feed mill, facilitate the subsequent conditioning process, increase the water stability of aqua-feed pellets, and eventually obtain nutritional aqua-feed that benefits the digestibility of aquatic animals.

2) Size of feed pellet: It is depending on the size of aquatic animal to be fed and its feeding habits.

3) Water stability: 45~90 min for shrimp feed and 5~30 min for common fish feed.

4) Floating / sinking ability: Different aquatic animal species live in different depths of water (shallow water, middle water and deep water) and different habitats. Therefore, the feed for different aquatic animals should be sustainable in corresponding depths.

5) Palatability: Most of aquatic animals favor feed of special color, scent and flavor.

2.       Aqua-feed processing technology and equipment

Both pelleting process and extrusion process are adaptable to aqua feed production. As the development of aquaculture, however, feed extrusion technology is more and more popular in the aqua-feed production because of its balanced nutrition, the excellent water stability, and most of all, the environment friendliness.

Raw material receiving and cleaning

The designed capacity for raw material intake in an aqua-feed mill shall be 2~3 times of its production capacity. For materials of different properties, special cleaning operation should be carried out where it is received. For instance, granular materials can be cleaned with a Muyang Drum Pre-cleaner and the powdery materials with a Muyang Conical Pre-cleaner, under the assistant of an aspiration system.

Primary grinding

As the pretreatment of fine - grinding or ultra-fine grinding in aqua-feed production, primary grinding (or coarse grinding) is designed to diminish the difference in and the variation of material particle size, to improve the working performance and working efficiency of the pulverizer thereof, and to ensure constant quality of finished products.

Primary proportioning and batch mixing

In such processing section, the major ingredients, i.e. the ingredients of larger proportion in aqua-feed formulation, are batched by an electronically controlled proportioning system, and then sent to the mixer for primary mixing. Primary proportioning and batch mixing are designed to limit the variation of material particle size before ultra-fine grinding, so as to further ensure constant quality of finished product. The proportioning bins in this process section should be designed to have a storage capacity to sustain the 4~6 hours' uninterrupted production of subsequent process.

Secondary grinding

Eating little, short digestive tract as well as bad digestibility of the aquatic animals require finely ground feed particles.

Secondary grinding usually is executed by a specialized pulverizer (ultra-fine grinding) or a fine-grinding hammer mill in Muyang solutions.

Secondary proportioning and batch mixing

The finely ground ingredients are fed into the other mixer for secondary batch mixing after proportioning. Usually, a manual feeding inlet is provided for adding micro ingredients into the secondary mixing mixer. And also two liquid application devices are furnished for adding water and oil respectively.

Extrusion and drying

Extrusion process is mainly executed by an extruder that is basically composed of a stationary barrel housing in which such elements as segmented screws and shear locks rotates, fulfilling extrusion operation together with a disc and knife assembly. There are two kinds of extruders that might be used in aqua-feed production: the single-screw extruder and the twin-screw extruder.

Coating and cooling

If necessary, liquid fats, flavors, and vitamins can be added externally to extruded feeds after drying. Post liquid application by coating will not only avoid the risk of damaging heat sensitive ingredients, but also improve the palatability and reduce powder generation of the finished product. After coating, extruded aqua-feed is cooled as required.

Bagging

When bagging aqua-feed, the amount of air entrained in the bag or that penetrating into the bag should be controlled to a minimum, so as to prevent feed from oxidation and deterioration. Therefore, it is recommended to close the bag through sewing plus heat sealing (plastic film lining), which can prolong the shelf life of finished product by 50~100%.

Future Development Trend on Feed Additives

Feed additives are inevitable in modern feed industry which can strengthen the basis of nutritional value, improve animal performance, ensure animal health, and improve livestock quality. But food safety issues in recent years caused by the abuse of feed additives are increasing. And the development on feed additives would present the following eight major directions:

1. Technicalization

With the continuous progress of science and technology on feed additive, there would be a number of high-tech feed additives, which led the direction of the feed industry to technology development, promoting feed industry, animal husbandry to a higher level.

2. Professionalization

With the continuous development of aquaculture scale, the demand on feed and quality requirements will greatly increase, which will greatly promote the professional development process of feed additives industry.

3. Serialization

As the feed additive industry leads to technology and professional direction, the type of feed additives will further be serialization and segmentation.

4. Environmental Protection

As the need of people’s awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development, the environmental protection on feed additives will be a top priority. The feed additives in the next time should be able to use resources rationally without pollution and threat to human health, and it should be without drug residues and other side effects.

5. High Efficient

Efficient is the future development of a general direction of feed additives, feed additives rely on related technology progress and under the market economy conditions, various feed additives production units will be more emphasis on basic feed additive research, and constantly develop new varieties, so that the feed additive varieties constantly updated, and effect will be significantly improved.

6. Functionalization

Feed additives have health care function and its multiple functions will become the highlight of the development of feed additives, which has great market potential.

7. Economization

Only with better economic performance and low cost, and input-output ratio, the feed additive can be accepted and get a wide range of application.

8. Convenience

The feed additives should be closer to the application; therefore, trace amount and remixed technology are the directions for feed additive development.

With the development of animal nutrition, physiology, breeding, biochemistry, bioengineering, pharmacology, microbiology and other subjects, and now the feed additive has combined several disciplines and a variety of new technologies, their functions and applications range has been further expanded.