SPECIAL STORY 58 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2022 IMPORTANCE AND OPTIMIZATION OF PARTICLE SIZE IN ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION A sustainable feed industry is constantly looking for the best way to process feed, to have the best yield with use of lowest amount of energy and lowest amount of raw materials. In this article we focus on the ways how to optimize the particle size in the grinding process of the feed mill. However, there is still much to learn in order to understand the animal biology and the effect of particle size on its nutrition to be able to define what the most optimal particle size. Particle size distribution plays a decisive role in feed production. On the one hand it greatly influences the energy consumption and physical quality of the feed, but on the other hand it also has a great influence on its nutritional value. However, there is no specific size to define because the optimal size varies depending on the species, feed application and even the age of the animal. Therefore the feed miller needs to be able to control and adjust the particle size depending on the type of feed or maybe even depending on the produced formulation. In next standing figure a course indication is shown of optimal particle size per specie. For pelleted feed the desired particle size is greatly related to the used pelleting hole diameter but also to the digestive system of the animal. A finer grind adds to the conditioning system of the Pellet Mill and is beneficial for the pelleting process and physical pellet quality. Important for mash feed is that the particle size distribution is very even. Meaning no fines and no oversized. Fines are not consumed, so they are lost. Particles size variation will cause segregation of the mix and larger particles will not be digested optimally. This means that mash feeds are especially suited for species which allow courser particles. Arthur vom Hofe Segment Manager Feed & Oilseeds CPM Europe
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