INTERVIEW FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2022 43 may occur due to moisture during and after feed production? Moisture or water which naturally occur in raw materials or which are added to feed should be considered as an ingredient just like maize, soya and wheat. It is part of the nutritional specification of feed. If moisture is not included as intended, feed millers will fill that space with more expensive raw materials. Storage facilities are designed to dry raw material, with low humidity, ambient temperatures and grinding all contributing to significant moisture losses. There is a perception that the lower the moisture content in feed, the more concentrated the nutrients would be and it should lead to better feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, research has shown a significant increase in feed efficiency (FE) for broilers from 3-to-6-weeks gained through moisture additions to mash feed in the mixer (Source: Moritz et al). This is attributed to better starch gelatinisation, digestibility, and pellet quality. Therefore, by losing moisture, feed conversion rates will fall. It is also well documented that dryer feed is less efficient at absorbing steam in the cooler, it slows down throughput and increases energy consumption in the pelleting press. How much is the estimated loss/wastage in global animal feed due to moisture related problems? It is documented that losses can vary from 1-3% depending on the weather conditions and friction during the milling process. In extreme conditions, we have witnessed losses of up to 6%. In essence, the world’s feed industry is losing 12 million to 40 million tons of saleable feed. What can you say about the extra burden and losses brought by the moisture management problems to the feed mills/enterprises? Due to moisture losses, feed mills are selling feed which is costing them more and not necessarily providing better performance at farm level. In our current economic climate, raw materials are scarce and expensive, and energy costs are rising on a monthly basis. Feed millers and integrators need to be looking at efficiencies. It is essential to responsibly manage moisture levels to ensure a reduction of unnecessary wastage, and increased milling efficiencies, through improvements in throughput and a reduction in electricity consumption.
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