Pellet Quality and Nutrient Segregation on the Farm
Published:February 14, 2020
John Boney (Penn State) discussed his recent research on pellets and flock uniformity in poultry farms and processing plants, during IPPE 2020 in Atlanta, USA.
Dear John, Thanks for your video on pellet quality and segregation of nutrient. I am not very clear as what u would like to suggest pellet feed millers Can u please elaborate in the form of text about your findings on performance of broiler diet on your research, please? Regards, Dr. Chandra.
The ultimate goal of this research is to continue providing data to feed millers that suggests improvements to pellet quality yields a positive return on investment. The literature supports improved performance with increased pellet quality. Now I am working to quantify the improvements to flock uniformity stemming from reduced nutrient segregation as a result of improving pellet quality.
I know that pellet quality has a lot to do with nutrient availability, and of course, shelflife. Can John please explain his topic implication and then his result?
The objective of this continuing research is to determine if investing in improvements to feed form (improving pellet quality) can reduce on-farm nutrient segregation. The literature supports improved broiler and turkey performance following feed form improvements. Ultimately, these results should help feed millers understand the importance of investing in feed form improvements.
I would also point out that pelleting strategy plays a role here. Improved quality has often been shown to improve efficiencies, and now this and similar data is providing a good focus on impacts related to segregation. However, we also have data that demonstrates that common methods for improving quality (high conditioning temperatures and retention times, thicker pellet dies, lower throughputs) may significantly impact viability of nutrients.
Adam Fahrenholz - That is a point that doesn't get enough attention. Some ways to improve pellet quality can damage nutrients. Reza Abudollahi at Massey has done a lot to explore this aspect. Unfortunately I don't see that his work gets much attention stateside.
A durable pellet at too large a cost in terms of nutrient availability doesn't pay for iteslf.
Adam Fahrenholz deffinately high conditioning improve nutrient availability and and FCR ultimately and maintain hygienic conditions of feed.pellet die thickness and holes size both contribute to pellet quality.
CHOI, YOUNGSOO
Hello ! I would like to suggest my proposal for the separation of farm bins from pellet feeds as follows.
1) 4 TON PELLET FEED is usually supplied from 35 minutes to 40 minutes from bulk vehicles when supplying farm bins.
2) PELLET and MASH FEEDS prevent separation of feed by installing a separation prevention device in the bin.
THANKS, CHOI
Pellet quality is very important, the gelatinization of all nutrients is vital since the separation of pellet before hitting the gut of any animal, especially poultry -be reminded the power of the gizzard: it is a great crusher plus the gain weights are crucial for farmers. The pellet needs to be intact but for ruminants-, goats, sheep. Too hard a pellet can cause choking, especially for lambs. The key is to ensure there is a balance of durability, to get through the rigors of transporting to farm and the various augers leaving the processing plant.
As a farmer i see there is definitely separation of feed in the bin and in the flex augers. I would like to hear more on devices that can be installed in the bins to prevent this problem. Anybody have suggestions on what a segregation looks like? Especially in the layer industry where large particle is added.
Mike Stahl,
I know I'm late to respond to this tread, but if you happen to blow your feed from the mill to the bins, maybe look into getting a "cyclone" on top of the bin and also a 12 inch pipe with 4 inch holes made all along that pipe and have it hanging in the bin so that the feed that is blown/delivered from the mill will first fall into the 12 inch pipe and then flow out into the bin evenly via the 4 inch holes. Pipe will be 2 feet of the bottom and will go up all the way into the supply. The "cyclone" is a cone-shaped, 30" high contraption, where the pipe enters into from the side towards the top, at an angle, and it make the feed go around and slows it down and then drop instead of blowing it straight down.
Another idea if you have the option is not to make a week supply of feed but rather a few days at a time.
Just some food for thought,
Hi John,
In regards to flock uniformity, we find the birds ate the end of the feed lines are generally heavier at a given age due to the significantly reduced levels of fines. The challenge we have here (as with most feed millers I suspect) is they push the throughput to spread their fixed costs which can often impact on pellet quality. If you can quantify the improvement in things like flock uniformity and the significant financial benefits from this it will add great weight to supporting feed millers to focus on pellet quality.
Kindly add pellet binder like bentonite @1% in the mixer and also 1 litre of geltin to make pellet slightly harder which will reduce powder % and segregation will reduce. Regard.
Pelleting farm animal feed reduces feed wastage and make all the feed ingredients consumed as compounded but this may be expensive in some parts of Africa or even cause increase in cost of production.
In most parts of Africa, there is serious competition between human being and farm animals for energy and protein source feed ingredients this therefore calls for alternative feed ingredients like Jatropha. Delonix regis and Locust beans but the problems of anti nutrients makes most of these alternatives ingredients useless and this makes the cost of poultry meat very expensive
Lawal Sesan I do concede your apprehension that the prevailing inflated cost of raw materials while computing ration to poultry does not permit due room to accomodate additional cost through pelletisation. My recommendation is to go in incorporating unconventional items containing some toxic factors judicially as a measure on controlling cost and get those feed to undergo pelletisation under exposure to steam to enhance digestibility apart from reducing the I'll effect of antinutritional factors inherited by some ingredients being used at your end. The aftermath of these findings would certainly arrive to your satisfactory level.
Mr Sesan
Pelleting does increase the cost of production as compared to mash but u look into efficiency of pellet, it’s much more better in terms of FCR, feed wastage, energy utilised by birds for prehenson of feed
With one pick of pellet complete feed goes into bird. More pellet is geletenised and cooked food thus BV of pellet is much better than mash
Regards
Dr Chandra
In my idea, pelleting has four benefits. In brief: 1. Improvement of bioavailability 2. Change in pick of feed and Improvment of FCR, BWG, FI. 3. Energy saving 4. Reducing pathogenic factors
We feed mash on our farm and it’s better than pallets because it’s the same every time pallets sometimes fall apart than u get dusty feed broilers don’t like eating dusty feed
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