There is actually this key point in aquatic feed

The raw material formulation factors directly affect the pelleting effect of aquatic feed extrusion machinery. Materials with high starch content are easily gelatinized by steam, and after conditioning, these raw materials have a certain viscosity, which is conducive to pellet formation. If the crude fiber content of the raw material is high, a certain amount of oil needs to be added to reduce the friction between the raw material and the ring die, allowing the raw material to pass through the ring die, and the formed pellets have a smoother appearance. Adding about 1% oil is sufficient; too high an addition can easily result in loose pellets. If more oil needs to be added, surface spraying after pelleting can be considered, which is particularly suitable for producing high-energy feed.

The particle size of crushed raw materials determines the surface area of feed ingredients. The finer the particle size, the larger the specific surface area, and the faster the material absorbs moisture from steam, which is beneficial for conditioning and pelletizing. From a pelleting perspective, finer grinding results in higher pellet strength, but excessive steam can easily cause blockages if not carefully controlled. Conversely, grinding the raw materials too finely leads to excessively high power consumption for crushing. If the particle size is too coarse, it increases the wear on the ring die and rollers, making pellet formation difficult—especially for small-diameter ring dies, which are even harder to shape. This results in poor gelatinization, high raw material consumption, low output, and a high powder content in the pellets.

Therefore, a 2.5~3.0mm sieve plate should be used to crush corn for producing livestock and poultry feed. This can avoid the drawbacks of excessively fine particle size while ensuring the necessary particle size for adequate feed conditioning, which helps reduce the powder content of pellets. Additionally, due to the complexity of raw material formulations and significant differences in ingredient ratios, attention must be paid to mixing uniformity before pelleting. For different formulas and varieties, varying mixing times should be adopted to achieve a coefficient of variation for mixing uniformity of approximately 5%.

These are the effects of raw materials on the production of aquatic feed extrusion machinery. For more information, please visit our official website or call our service hotline. We are dedicated to serving you.