Feed Processing

Dr. Tim Marshall

Animal Sciences
University of Florida

What happens when feedstuffs

are processed?
• Increases rate of passage
Why Process Feedstuffs?
• Increases digestibility

What happens when particle size is

• Increases utilization or feed efficiency
decreased?

So - Why process feedstuffs? Why?

• Increase efficiency of utilization
*increases surface area for greater bacterial and
enzymatic activity
*alters molecular structure to enhance digestion
• Increases palatability
• Increases handling efficiency
• Alters the bulk density of the diet
*increases the bulk density of a high
concentrate diet, thus safer diet…less
digestive disorders like acidosis
*decreases bulk density of a high roughage
diet…increases daily consumption

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 Why? Two types of Feed Mixers
• Batch Mixer
• Allows blending of a complete diet
feed ingredients are processed, weighed, mixed
• Enhances the flowing/handling of high requires operator to be present
roughage diets…will not “bridge”
stationary vs portable
• Continuous Flow Mixer
• Cost? Need FE improvement to cover
$2/ton processing cost ingredients are simultaneously metered into a mill

built-in, automatic controls

Continuous Flow - Advantages Continuous Flow - Disadvantage

• Automatic – low labor cost • Must have finished diet storage

• Low cost of operation • Will not handle roughages

• Very reliable • Limited flexibility in rations

• Requires little space for mill • Not portable - stationary

Advantages of Large
Stationary Batch Mills
• Accurate

• Consistent

• Flexibility of mixing many diets

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 Feed Mill Portable Batch Mill
• Tractor PTO-driven vs Truck – mounted

• PTO-driven mill usually includes method of

processing
mixing
delivery of finished/complete feed

Types of Batch Mixers

• Vertical

• Horizontal

• Auger wagon

Vertical Batch Mixer

• Cylindrical; cone-shaped bottom
• Vertical auger lifts feed from bottom to top
where centrifugal force scatters feed
• Low initial cost
• Low power requirement
• Requires long mixing time for good mix
• Can not handle molasses, silage, some hays

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 Horizontal Batch Mixer
• “U”-shaped trough mixing chamber
• Horizontal shaft w/paddle agitators
• High initial cost
• High power requirement
• Handles all types of ingredients
• Fast (short mixing time)
• Very thorough mix (consistent)

Auger Mixer Wagon

• Horizontal mixing chamber

• Vertical unloading auger

• Relatively long mixing time required

• Can be mounted on trucks or wagons that

are pulled by tractors

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 Feed Truck

Processing Methods Types of Grinding

• Grinding • Hammer mill
fly wheel rotor w/ swinging hammers in
• Dry rolling, cracking, crimping
chamber w/ screen; feed beaten until
• Pelleting particle size falls through screen

• Heat treatment methods of grain processing • Burr mill

compresses feed between rollers to create
Steam Flaking
flake
Many others: roasting, extruding, popping, etc.

Grinding often used

Pelleting
for diets fed to…
• Poultry • Agglomerating ground feed material by
compacting and forcing it through die
• Swine openings
• Combination of heat, moisture, pressure
Coarse grind for ruminants and horse may be needed
• Made in different diameters, lengths, and
hardness

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 Pelleting - Advantages Pelleting - Disadvantages
• Low dust, high palatability • Increases cost >$7/ton
• Less weight loss in transport (dust)
• Reduce selective eating • May have difficulty with quality of
• Increases digestion pelleting procedure causing problems
• Easier to handle
• Easier to store

Other Feedstuffs
• Pellet
– 50% soybean hulls, 30%
wheat mids, and 20%
(alfalfa meal, selenium, vit-
E, phosphorus)
– Likes pellet size to be
around ¾”

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 Steam Flaking Steam Flakers
• 20-30 minutes in steam chest
• Rolled to create flake
• 16 – 20% moisture
• Density of 22 to 28 pounds/bushel
• Flaking gelatinizes some of the starch
granules, rendering them more digestible

Steam-flaked Milo

Steam-flaked Corn

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Grain Quality Testing

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 Harvesting Silage

Benefits of Corn Processing Benefits of Corn Processing

Longer particle length of corn silage Fewer (< 5%) intact corn kernels

Greater effective fiber in silage Greater starch digestion from silage

Less subclinical acidosis Better milk production

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Benefits of Corn Processing
Fewer intact cob sections

Less sorting of TMR

Less variable intake of fiber

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