1. Raw Material Selection
The first step is selecting high-quality raw materials, which commonly include:
• Energy Sources: Corn, barley, wheat.
• Protein Sources: Soybean meal, cottonseed meal, cotton seed de oiled cakes
• Fiber Sources: Rice husk, wheat bran, groundnut hulls
• Minerals & Vitamins: Limestone, dicalcium phosphate, salt, premixes
• Additives: Enzymes, probiotics, antibiotics (as required)
2. Raw Material Grinding
Larger raw materials (like grains and oil cakes) are ground using hammer mills or grinders to improve digestibility and mixing efficiency.
3. Batching & Mixing
• Batching: Weighing and proportioning ingredients based on a formulated feed recipe.
• Mixing: Ingredients are blended thoroughly in mixers (horizontal or vertical) to ensure even distribution of nutrients.
4. Conditioning & Pelletizing (Optional but common)
• The mixed feed is sent to a conditioning chamber, where steam is added to improve pellet formation.
• The conditioned feed is passed through a pellet mill, pressing it into small cylindrical pellets.
• Pellets improve digestibility, reduce waste, and enhance feed intake.
5. Cooling & Drying (For Pelleted Feed)
• Fresh pellets are cooled using a cooling system to remove excess moisture and prevent spoilage.
• Sometimes, additional drying is done to bring moisture levels below 10-12%.
6. Sieving & Crumbling
• Sieving removes oversized or undersized particles.
• Crumbling breaks large pellets into smaller sizes for young animals.
7. Quality Control & Testing
• Samples are tested for moisture, protein, fat, fiber, and minerals to meet nutritional standards.
• Microbiological tests ensure safety from mold, bacteria, or contaminants.
8. Packaging & Storage
• Final feed is packed in bags (50kg, 25kg) or bulk containers.
• Stored in a cool, dry place to prevent spoilage.
9. Distribution
• Feed is transported to farms or markets based on demand.