ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE April 2024 41 “Aquafeed producers mix many ingredients including plant and fish meals, oils, and other proteins. As formulations are designed to give specific ratios of each material, when the moisture continuously varies at different rates between the materials, this leads to changes in the proportions of the dry materials. If the proportions of the dry materials are not correctly adjusted for the constant change, then this will cause variations in protein and fat, and the nutritional value of the final feed pellet and affect the pelleted product’s market value.” The key to optimising aquafeed production processes is to ensure stability and repeatability. Other than the quality of ingredients and process equipment, the largest unknown variable in the material is water. The moisture content within each ingredient fluctuates over time. These fluctuations create various challenges for the producer. It is very advantageous to continually measure and correct for the changing moisture contents. Aquafeed producers mix many ingredients including plant and fish meals, oils, and other proteins. The feed formulations are defined according to the species and age of the animal being fed and other factors such as seasonal availability, and quality of each ingredient. Frequently shortages of fishmeal or fish oil causes fluctuations in prices, so adjustments are made to the formulation to reduce cost whilst maintaining quality and nutritional value. Ingredients are substituted and expensive additives may be required to maintain nutritional value. Raw materials such as meat and bonemeal may have an average moisture of 5%, while soybean has 12.7% [1]. As formulations are designed to give specific ratios of each material, when the moisture continuously varies at different rates between the materials, this leads to changes in the proportions of the dry materials. A system producing a recipe specifying 1000kg of dry soybeans may have an input material at 12.7% moisture (wet basis), so this should be controlled as accurately as possible to dose exactly 1,127kg. This would provide the required 1000kg of dry soybean meal specified along with 127kg of water. If the soybean meal moisture reduced to 10%, the same dosed weight (1,127kg) would actually result in 1,024kg of dry material in the measurement and only 102.4kg of water. If the proportions of the dry materials are not correctly adjusted for the constant change, then this will cause variations in protein and fat, and the nuIS WATER KILLING YOUR FISH? Neal Cass Technical Sales Manager Hydronix Ltd Benefits of Moisture Measurement and Control in Aquafeed Production
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