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Animal Feed Processing


Animal feed processing is the cornerstone of modern agriculture, powering the health, growth, and productivity of livestock across the globe. It’s a complex and indispensable industry that transforms raw ingredients into nutritious and balanced feed for a diverse range of animals, from poultry and cattle to aquaculture species. The impact of this process extends beyond the barnyard, playing a pivotal role in global food security and sustainability.

At its core, animal feed is the lifeblood of livestock and poultry. It involves selecting and blending ingredients with precision to craft highly nutritional diets that bolster animal health and enhance the quality of products like milk, meat, and eggs. This isn’t guesswork; it’s the result of chemical analysis, experimentation, and research conducted by agricultural scientists, leading to significant improvements in animal diets.

The landscape of animal feed manufacturing is changing. It’s no longer just about achieving high production levels; it’s also about prioritizing nutrition and health. Animal feed companies are focusing more on developing immunity, supporting animal health, and reducing the reliance on antibiotics. This shift comes as advancements in animal health and the tightening restrictions on conventional treatments require comprehensive research and innovation.

To create a high-quality animal feed, understanding the ingredients is paramount. Some feeds, like pasture grasses and certain grains, are grown explicitly for animal feed manufacturing. Others, such as sugar beet pulp and brewers’ grains, are the by-products of human food crop processing. Surplus food crops, including wheat, fruits, vegetables, and roots, can also find their way into animal feed.
Feed grains, a critical source of animal feed globally, vary in quantity depending on the unit of meat produced. An animal feed formulation can include up to ten components, including protein, vitamins, carbohydrates, minerals, and additives, depending on the specific dietary requirements.

With growing populations, increased meat consumption, and a focus on healthy eating, animal nutrition technologies are evolving to meet these demands. The key is providing high-quality feed that benefits farmers, agriculture, and consumers. It starts with a deep knowledge of animal types, nutrient interactions, environmental factors, and cost-effective ingredient blends. Minerals also play a crucial role in animal nutrition, encompassing minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and selenium.

Feed manufacturing processes involve converting diverse raw agricultural feed ingredients into a single, homogenized form, such as mash, pellets, or crumbles. The journey typically begins with grinding, which reduces raw bulk materials into manageable particle sizes that can be easily blended and homogenized.
Pelleting, a preferred feed for many animals, is achieved through extrusion. Conditioning, where steam and heat are applied to the feed mixture, precedes pelleting. It softens the mixture, making it more amenable to pelleting and ensuring uniform pellet size and durability. Throughout the process, maintaining a hygienic environment is crucial to producing high-quality feed.

The global animal feed manufacturing industry is evolving toward human food manufacturing standards. Product quality, safety, process reliability, and low operational costs are paramount when selecting and designing feed processing equipment. Standard technologies include silos for raw material storage, weighing systems for precise ingredient measurements, mixers for uniform blending, pellet mills and hammer mills, dust collection systems, feeding and metering equipment, classification and separation machinery, and thermal processing equipment.

The global feed industry is driven by increasing consumer demand for meat, dairy, and livestock-based products, fostering growth and innovation. Feed manufacturers are working on customer-focused products and seeking alternative raw materials to enhance efficiency. Animal feed is the vital link between crop cultivation and animal protein production in the livestock production chain.

Animal feed manufacturers face the challenge of creating feed that meets livestock nutritional requirements. These precise formulas boost production efficiency, improve the quality of animal products, and contribute to a cleaner environment. Advancements in feed processing technology allow manufacturers to adapt each batch’s consistency and formulation, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and explore alternatives to traditional ingredients. Process automation solutions further contribute to increased production rates, inventory tracking, efficiency, and process monitoring.
In conclusion, animal feed processing is a dynamic and vital industry that fuels global agriculture and sustains the livestock and poultry sector. It’s a fusion of science, technology, and precision that ensures the well-being of animals and contributes to global food security. Process engineers play a pivotal role in optimizing these processes, enabling the production of high-quality feed that meets the demands of a growing world population. Animal feed processing is not just about nutrition; it’s about nurturing sustainable agriculture and meeting the needs of a hungry planet.

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Articles about Animal Feed Processing

Experts for Animal Feed Processing

Chuck Johnson is the director of sales at National Bulk Equipment, located in Holland, Michigan. His professional experience includes over 25 years in the design, engineering, & sales of bulk material handling equipment & systems. Johnson holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University.
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Karen Van Aelst, ing., is a seasoned professional with a rich background in sales and engineering, particularly within the dry bulk handling and process industry. Over the course of 12 years, she honed her expertise in selling installations tailored for these sectors. In 2010, Karen transitioned to StuvEx, where she embarked on a decade-long journey as a sales engineer specializing in explosion protection. Her role encompassed managing sales activities in both BeLux and Germany, showcasing her proficiency in navigating diverse markets and establishing strong client relationships. Since 2019, Karen has assumed the position of Product Manager at StuvEx, where she is entrusted with the vital responsibilities of overseeing the development and market realization of explosion protection products. Her extensive experience in sales, coupled with her engineering background, positions her as a valuable asset in driving innovation and ensuring the safety of industrial environments. Karen’s dedication and expertise continue to play a pivotal role in the success of StuvEx in the field of explosion protection.
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As the Sales Manager at Foeth, Michel Terlouw possesses an enthusiasm for international trade and excels in identifying the perfect match for every customer. In a company like Foeth, individuals with a solid technical background are truly indispensable. Clients from across the globe visit to explore our extensive inventory of pre-owned machines, and it’s essential to collaborate closely with each customer to determine which machine best suits their intended application. Michel is impassioned by the collaborative process of discovering the ideal machine alongside the customer because it aligns with our mission. The pursuit of finding the perfect solution is not only gratifying but also contributes to advancing sustainability within the industry.
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Robert brings over 25 years of experience for bulk material handling and material processing equipment to Material Transfer. At MTS, he is responsible to fostering new business opportunities while nurturing account relationships. His depth of experience and industry knowledge allows our Team to meet the growing needs of our customers as we continue to provide the highest quality systems to the marketplace.
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Design Engineer, Project Manager, Territory and Sales Manager with 40+ years of experience in capture at source designs, sales and installation projects for high and low vacuum and dust collection and filtration systems and explosion and fire mitigation in dust collection systems.
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Matthew Bailey – Technical Lead

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Travis has over 20 years of experience in the dry bulk solids industry and is the President at Vortex, an engineering and manufacturing company that specialises in process valves and loading solutions specifically for solids handling. Travis has worked on solution-driven installations across six continents and has a strong knowledge of market-specific regulations and requirements within the industry.
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Nathan Grube is Regional Vice President of Sales for BinMaster covering the central United States including a ten-state area stretching from North Dakota to Texas. He joined BinMaster in 2001, already equipped with five years of experience in agricultural equipment. Grube has worked with end users, distributors, and OEMs across the US. His vast expertise covers many industries including agriculture, aggregates, cement, plastics, and mining, among others.
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Chris has been working at Spiroflow for over 10 years and is currently in the role of technical sales manager. He handles all the technical drawings and specifications during the sale and aides our drawing office while the equipment is designed, he also assists the manufacturing department with the build. His vast knowledge of powder handling and mechanical design is why he is involved in every aspect of designing our powder handling solutions.
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