ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2026 47 82°C with sufficient retention time, for example 60 seconds in a controlled long-term heat treatment system, provides high certainty that pathogen levels are reduced to a safe threshold. Systems operating on first-in, first-out principles ensure uniform exposure and consistent results, which are essential for reliable, predictable pathogen reduction. However, feed safety is best understood as a strategic defense rather than a single intervention. I often compare it to a war: you do not win by attacking head-on alone; you must also protect your flanks. In practical terms, this means combining thermal treatment with raw material strategy and formulation decisions like inclusion of probiotics. Nutritionists play a key role by selecting raw materials based on the plant’s technological capabilities. The more robust the thermal systems and automation controls, the more confidently higher-risk raw materials can be managed safely, like soybean meal or rendering products. In certain formulations, formic acid may be applied, as it penetrates pathogen cell walls, creates a hostile environment, and enhances the overall reduction effect. When combined with precise heat treatment by time and temperature, this creates a much stronger and more reliable safety barrier. Temperature, chemistry, and raw material strategy must therefore work together within a controlled process framework. When these elements are aligned, feed safety becomes predictable rather than reactive. ENGINEERING RESPONSIBILITY: PROCESS AND MATERIAL SELECTION Lydom: Combining formic acid and steam introduces another important consideration: vaporized acids. These vapors can aggressively attack mild steel, leading to corrosion, hygiene challenges, and significantly reduced equipment lifetime. Feed safety therefore does not stop at temperature control. It extends into engineering design. Selecting appropriate stainless-steel grades, such as SS304 or SS316 acid-resistant materials, ensures that equipment withstands chemical exposure for decades. When your feed mill invests in new machinery, you expect more than short-term performance. Naturally, you expect safe, stable, and hygienic operation for more than 20 years. In this sense, equipment either supports feed safety over its lifetime or gradually undermines it. The difference lies in engineering foresight. THE FOUNDATION: STABLE EQUIPMENT ENABLES SAFE PROCESSING Ivan Harjacek: With more than 20 years of industrial experience across multiple sectors, I have learned one simple principle: without stable equipment, there is no stable process. Feed safety begins with reliability. The main objective of any operation must be to run without unexpected downtime and in accordance with the highest safety standards. Only when operational stability is secured can we seriously discuss optimization or performance improvements. Processing technologies must deliver predictable mechanical performance, hygienic design that allows efficient cleaning, and maintenance concepts that support long-term stability. For example, Andritz OptiMix uses dual rotation and a cylindrical design to achieve a high level of self-cleaning and avoid dead space to eliminate residue build-up. By reducing build-up and limiting cross-contamination, the system supports consistent, reliable, and safe processing. Mechanical predictability underpins biological certainty. When equipment performs consistently, safety margins become measurable and defensible. IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT, YOU CANNOT DEFEND IT Harjacek: There is a well-known management principle often attributed to Peter Drucker: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” In feed production, I would extend that further - if you cannot measure it, you cannot defend it. Authorities require documented proof of control. Temperatures must be logged, retention times recorded, moisture levels monitored and batch his-
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