Pelleted feeds are mealy mixtures formed into granules. According to experts, grass meal and compound feed, popular among farmers, are best used in the form of pieces of a dense structure. And you can feed them to both animals, birds, and fish. Therefore, if you have any fauna on your farm, hurry up and familiarize yourself with all the nuances of granulation.

Advantages of granulation:

Of course, before you give preference to granulation, you need to find out what you will ultimately gain and what benefits await you. Meanwhile, they are significant:
1. The full set of nutrients and vitamins is preserved. Despite the fact that some experts are convinced of the destruction of vitamins during the pelleting process, English and American scientists have come to the conclusion that the short period during which the pelleting process occurs cannot significantly affect the composition of the feed. The Americans and British conducted a lot of research, so you can be confident in their conclusions. At the same time, it is also obvious that much more food is lost in crumbly form than in the form of granules. Due to the fact that all the beneficial substances are contained in the granules, the animal’s body will receive them in full. This means that the benefits of this type of food are maximum, as are the taste qualities, which in this case only benefit.

Granular feed is an excellent alternative to any bulk feed and compound feed,
Pelleted feed is perfectly eaten by all farm animals, birds and fish.

We granulate poultry feed 3 mm Kursk granulator

2. The phenomenon of saccharification should be separately noted. The fact is that starch, which is known to be contained in cereals, is converted into sugar during hydrothermal treatment to create granules. Not completely, but this is quite enough to significantly increase the feed value of the resulting product. Together with vitamins, antibiotics, microelements and other components of feed, saccharification has an excellent effect on the body of animals, birds and fish.

3. Speaking about the undoubted benefits of granules, we should turn to the anatomy of birds and animals. It is believed that their digestive organs are completely unsuited to properly processing feed in a liquid or paste state. An exception to this rule may be pigs. Thus, the bird runs the risk of getting its beak clogged if it eats regular food. And, as a result, breathing problems arise. In addition, according to the observations of experts, the productivity of poultry when fed with pellets can increase by an average of 15%! This figure is explained by the fact that mealy food is light in weight and, as a result, birds spend more energy absorbing food. At the same time, the pellets weigh more - this means that less energy is spent on feeding the bird, and more feed, along with all the nutrients, is absorbed. The bird no longer chooses what to swallow, but consumes everything along with useful elements. It should be noted that in this way you can significantly save on the feed itself.

As for animals, this too has its difficulties. Thus, it is extremely difficult for ruminant animals to grasp mealy feed with their tongues. At first glance, it seems that nothing terrible is happening, because, although it is difficult, the process of food absorption occurs. However, this approach is fraught: the chewing apparatus is not used properly, and the stomach does not accept food in the form in which it should arrive. But if you use granules, the animal will have a good appetite, the mucous membranes will remain in a non-irritated state and, of course, the digestion of the product will proceed as it should due to excellent chewing. We said above that it is much easier for pigs to digest food served in a mealy state. However, it is advisable to feed them with granules - thereby you will save on food, while providing the animal with the same set of necessary substances.

4. Compliance with sanitary standards is an equally important point, if not of paramount importance. And according to this parameter, granules are preferable, since they do not pollute the feeders. This, in turn, greatly reduces the risk of animals getting sick and increases the overall satisfactory sanitary condition of the premises in which animals or birds are kept.
5. Don't worry that the granules will disintegrate and turn into a paste. Caking and freezing are also not a threat at all. Humidity and temperature cannot affect the shape of the granules. The secret lies in the binders - molasses, hydrol, fat, bentonites and others. They perform many useful functions - increase productivity and reduce energy and steam consumption, enrich the product with useful substances. Another important property of the listed substances is that they increase the strength of the granules and prevent the disintegration of their shape. However, there is a nuance - the same fat should not be contained in a concentration of more than 3%, since otherwise it ceases to be a binding element. In the case of bird feed, this figure can be increased to 6%. The ideal option would be to use the listed binders and steaming.

Hay and straw can be perfectly granulated; such granules can be used not only as animal feed, but also as litter for pet litter, as well as fuel.

6. This kind of food is very convenient to transport and distribute. Transportation is allowed by both pneumatic and mechanical modes of transport. The homogeneity is not disturbed at all, which allows you to move the cargo without using containers. And how convenient it is to distribute such food mechanically! People who have dealt with pellets will unanimously confirm that they are very convenient not only to pack on the farm, but also to store. In addition, the granulation process itself provides for partial disinfection, which reduces the risk of exposure to negative factors on the feed.

Feed granulation technology.

So, we have become familiar with the advantages of this type of feed supply. Now it will not be superfluous to understand how granules are made. At the factory they are produced in two ways - dry and wet.

1. Dry granulation method - in this case, ordinary feed, which has a crumbly structure, is treated with steam. Alternatively, it can be mixed with liquid substances such as hydrol, molasses and then compressed. The DG feed granulator is quite modern in design and easy to operate; it processes organic raw materials and mixed feed. This is what is used when using the dry method. To begin with, the feed is carefully weighed and then placed in a hopper located above the press. But before this bunker, the feed must be in a sieve separator, as well as in a magnetic barrier. And after the bunker comes the granulator press. After leaving it, cooling occurs in a special device.

It is also very convenient that small particles and crumbs are eliminated immediately. If the feed is made for chickens, then the granules are also crushed on a roller machine. But when granulating, it is best to use several sizes of granulator matrices with different dies, then you will not have to grind large granules in order to feed them to young animals.

The press granulator should be discussed separately. Steam processing in it occurs at a temperature of 120-140 degrees. The steam must be dry. After this treatment, the feed enters the pressing chamber, which adds 16-17% moisture to it. The temperature is set within 50-80 degrees. We wrote above that the granules undergo a cooling process. After such cooling, the humidity decreases to a maximum of 14%, and the temperature to a point that will be 5-8 degrees above the ambient temperature.

The output is granules of different diameters, and this is not accidental. Small cylinders of food are intended for young birds - chickens and ducklings absorb small lumps best. But an adult bird can consume pellets measuring 5 mm.

These parameters are also suitable for fish. Large pieces of feed can be given to pigs, horses, and cattle. It is more profitable to produce large granules, because their production is less expensive. And if you need a small format for feeding chicks or fish, it is best to crush the large one, and then sift out the small particles. This procedure should be carried out after the granules have cooled. Screening is carried out as efficiently as possible in special equipment with two sieves - after passing through the upper one, the remaining large particles are returned for grinding, and after the lower one, ready-made grits are formed. The passage produces a product that goes for pressing. As you can understand, food for large animals bypasses the phase of such grinding and sifting. Such procedures should be carried out with good theoretical preparation precisely because many factors must be taken into account when working with a granulator - the quality of the ingredients, their moisture content, the diameter of the granules, the condition of the device matrix, the recipe. If all these factors are carefully observed, the granules will be strong, dry and with minimal loss of much-needed vitamin A. For the latter, you can replace steam with a well-binding salted hydrol. Then, instead of losing 30% of the beneficial vitamin, the food will lose only 8%.

Preparation of granulated fish food.

We are testing feed pellets for fish.

The wet method is applicable if it is necessary to produce fish food. This option is used much less frequently than the first, but if you need to get food that does not get too wet, swell or disintegrate in water, this is what you need. How can I test the product? Pay attention to how long it takes from the moment the pieces of food are immersed until they begin to lose their original shape. If the food is intended for animals or birds, then this time can be 3 minutes, and in this case there is no need to worry. But if you keep fish, then 3 minutes will clearly not be enough - at least 15 minutes should pass.

The process of making fish food.

To produce suitable pellets for fish feeding, it is necessary to use a special screw extruder or feed granulator (which is preferable and more affordable). But you should pay attention not only to the press or feed granulator, but also to the raw material itself - it must be loose, without films and must be finely ground. Only in this case can a quality product be obtained. And in order to select this necessary raw material, a special sieve is used, the holes of which are within 2 mm in diameter. It is also important to pay attention to the degree of moisture in the dough and the temperature at which the food is prepared.
Once the raw materials are properly sifted, they can be added to the kneader of the press. Fluoroplastic inserts are often used in the matrix, which certainly improves the quality of pressing. Now you need to dilute the feed with water by 34% -35%. However, any water is not suitable - you need hot water, the temperature of which will reach 70-80 degrees. According to research, it is this indicator that increases the volumetric mass of granules and their density, and also reduces the amount of energy spent on the production of granules. Do not choose a higher temperature, since this will already be fraught with a slight decrease in water resistance - this will not have critical consequences, but the quality of the product will decrease slightly. After such a stay under pressure, the granules are thoroughly blown to remove excess moisture. Drying is carried out in special dryers, called heater dryers VSh-2. The temperature at which drying is carried out reaches 100-110 degrees. Cooling and getting rid of fine powdery particles are also necessary. The material is cooled in a special column. The particles are sifted out in a device called a sifting machine. After this, the finished cylinders are checked for their quality by immersing them in water.
This method is much more expensive than dry food, but all additional costs associated with such production of feed are fully justified. The high quality of the resulting product speaks for itself. According to experts, the benefits of food made by wet granulation are approximately 18%-21% higher than the benefits of food made by dry granulation. This is especially important when developing a diet for fish. Depending on the type of fish and their behavior, it is possible to develop granules of various physical and chemical properties using this method - they can either stay afloat or sink quickly, or sink into water slowly.

How to make a granulator with your own hands:

Of course, all the factors that need to be taken into account when making food prompt you to turn to specialists. But if you have a sufficient theoretical basis and you plan to make granulated food yourself, you can try to make the equipment for this yourself. In addition, if you own a farm, it may be easier and more profitable to make your own feed. What will you need for this?

Principle and structure of a feed granulator.

As you understand from the description of granulation methods, there are several options for producing granules. Despite their general principle of squeezing crushed feed out of cylindrical holes in the matrix, there are some differences. The feed can be pressed using either special pressing rollers or an auger. In this case, we will consider the first option - with rollers.

In turn, the rollers can work according to two principles - rotate, due to which the feed is pressed, or be in a static state. In the latter case, they are fixed in the granulator frame on a fixed axis, and rotation occurs directly in the matrix. But in any case you can’t do without rollers.
In this case, we will consider the second option - when the rollers themselves are motionless. Rotation on the die will occur due to a gear train with intersecting axes. The toothed gear is located on the drive shaft. From it the torque is transmitted to the ring gear. This crown is located on the shaft, and the flat matrix is ​​also located on the shaft. All of the listed elements are located in the housing.
This was a general diagram of the device, giving an idea of ​​the final result of manufacturing the granulator. Now we will try to apply it in the “do it yourself” mode. You are unlikely to have a lathe at hand; you may not even have one in the garage. Therefore, you will have to adapt to what is at hand.

How does this work? Flat die granulator.

The main components of the granulator, as mentioned above, are rollers and a matrix. If you have sufficient skills, you can even make them yourself, but it is still advisable to purchase ready-made ones.

Remember that the quality of the device itself will depend on the quality of these parts. In addition, it is not difficult to purchase them, and at a very affordable price and with any necessary parameters.

But a housing with a gear drive is not so easy to find, but it is quite feasible. Please note that the housing must fit perfectly to the gear drive. This is precisely the basis from which it is necessary to build. But where to find it? Alternatively, we can recommend looking at a car wrecking yard. If you still can’t find the case, you can make it yourself. To do this we need a sheet of metal or, even better, a metal pipe. The matrix must rotate freely in the housing, therefore the diameter of the housing must be appropriate. However, the gap between the wall and the matrix should be as small as possible. Here, more than anywhere else, the so-called “golden mean” is important. At the bottom of our pipe we need to make a hole, to which we weld a tray for granules. In this case, the hole must be made square. The geared output shaft is attached to the bottom of the cylinder using a coupling and bearings. Attach lugs to both parts of the cylinder. It's best to just weld them. Through them the two parts of the body are connected using bolts. This composite design is good because it is easy to operate, clean, and, if necessary, transport.
And you're in luck - you've found what you need. The main components need to be attached to the transmission. After this is done, select a suitable electronic motor for the future granulator. But in order for the engine to be fixed somewhere, a rigid frame needs to be welded. It is recommended to make it from a corner or channel. By the way, a gear drive will also be attached to the same frame along with it. Once you have done all of the above, you can consider that the feed forming machine is almost assembled. All that remains to be done is to install a chain or belt drive, install a special tray designed for granules, and a funnel into which the raw materials will be loaded. But these are already details; their implementation will take very little time. In the end, all that remains is to apply a little paint to the surface of the structure.
You should listen to the following advice, which will help make the device as functional as possible. Both chain and belt drives can be used. The main thing is that the axis of the shaft on which the flat matrix is ​​located and the axis of the engine rotor are parallel to each other and in the same plane. Naturally, in this case the engine itself must be installed vertically.
Research shows that the profitability of farms that have their own personal granulator increases on average by 1.5-2 times. The fact is that the purchase of ready-made feed can take approximately 70% of the amount intended for keeping poultry or cattle. It turns out that the opinion that it is cheaper to purchase ready-made products instead of acquiring personal equipment for the manufacture of these products is wrong. Even for beginning farmers, purchasing or creating your own equipment can cost 110,000 rubles, but it will pay for itself in literally 10 or 12 months. It may well be that making a granulator yourself will cost you even less, but, undoubtedly, the payback will be quick.

Feed Pelletizer Reviews

We looked at ways to produce high-quality food for animals, birds and fish. We also found out how you can make a device for forming such food yourself. But what to do if you constantly need a granulator on your own farm, but you can’t do something with your own hands? Then it is recommended to purchase a ready-made device. And the choice of relevant products on the market is quite large. Let's look at some manufacturers that can provide proven equipment:

1. Doza-Agro LLC - is engaged in the production, installation and sale of fairly high-quality agricultural equipment, including granulators. The equipment is available in any capacity, which, without a doubt, will allow you to choose exactly what is needed for any of the tasks. The modern design is perfectly combined with ease of use. As for the first point - the design - it allows you to use almost any raw material for the production of granules, which is extremely convenient and helps save money. This raw material can be dosed with maximum precision thanks to the combination of a reduced pitch of the screw turns and an increased diameter of the chamber located in the dispenser. The press has a good degree of protection. The engines are very convenient to operate and, what is also important, they produce minimal noise. Thanks to all the listed features, the equipment of this company is quite durable, reliable, versatile and safe. And, importantly, it consumes little energy and has a decent uninterrupted service life. Even a beginner can use this device, because the company offers a full range of services - from consultation to delivery and installation with subsequent service and warranty period.

2. TekhnoMashStroy LLC - suitable for the production of feed for pigs, chickens, fish, rabbits, cows, quails and other living creatures. What is the advantage of this particular model? The double-sided matrix is ​​made of high-strength steel. Moreover, the matrices are available in various versions depending on the diameter of the holes that are intended for pressing. These holes range in diameter from 2 mm to 6 mm. If for some reason the matrix or any other parts do not meet your requirements, there is always the opportunity to additionally order what is needed. You can also order not the entire granulator - that is, not in the form in which it is advertised. If you want to show your creativity and finalize something yourself, then this opportunity is provided.
3. ART – suitable for use in both large farms and small private enterprises. The undoubted advantages include the fact that the matrix is ​​able to work with engines of various powers. But in any case, energy costs are minimal. The matrix itself is made of 20X steel, which is cemented in a hot furnace. Due to this approach, excellent hardness of the metal surface is acquired, as well as, importantly, the walls of the holes. Thanks to this last feature, the device does not wear out for quite a long time and requires minimal intervention in terms of repair work. The method of making rollers is similar to the method of making a matrix. The transmission is not straight-toothed, but helical-toothed, which ensures greater durability of the product and a lower level of noise emitted by it.
The granulator is not for factory use, but is special for farms. It requires a voltage of 220 V. This company installs a centrifugal clutch on it, and this guarantees a smooth start even in conditions where the load on the engine is quite large. In the case of such a heavy load, the engine does not stop, as happens with some other devices. Instead, the clutch slips. The overload is also prevented by a thermal relay, which will simply turn off the engine in the event of unforeseen situations. Alloy steel is used in the manufacture of granulator parts; this steel undergoes the necessary heat treatment for excellent strength.
Before not only registering for sale, but also going through the painting procedure, each individual car is tested. If any defects are found during the inspection, they are corrected immediately. And to avoid such defects, the company manufactures all components itself.
A 22 kW granulator is available for purchase - it has passed all the necessary tests and has been put into mass production. This company has been performing excellently on the market of similar products for 2 years now, and during this time it has managed to win the trust of consumers. In addition, she never tires of making various improvements.
4. Agropost LLC - manufactures a granulator that perfectly forms raw materials into granules. The granules are dense, smooth, and easy to use. They undergo heat treatment, which only strengthens their properties. Compound feed, straw residues, rice husks, alfalfa, sunflower husks, corn, wood industry residues, agricultural waste - all this is suitable as a raw material. This device operates with an engine power of 15 kW, and the productivity is 700-800 kilograms per hour. It is recommended to use a product whose humidity is 13-18%.
5. Spetsselmash LLC - the products of this enterprise are characterized by reduced energy intensity. For comparison, similar products from other enterprises consume as much as 8 or 9 kW per hour more than this option. In addition, less dust is generated during operation, which is another advantage of this option. In order to achieve greater efficiency, you can add a second auger loader, scales and even a bag sewing machine. Greater efficiency means the ability to conveniently dispense the finished product into bags, as well as faster loading. The standard equipment includes a hammer crusher, which houses a fan, a mixer with a horizontal shaft, and an accurate loading auger. It is possible to add both dry and liquid additives at your discretion.

Pelleted feed overview

We looked at some brands of pelleting machines, but what to do if it is still more convenient for you to buy ready-made food. Going to the trouble of making your own may not be convenient for everyone, so in some cases it may be advantageous to purchase pre-made and packaged kibble food. The brands listed below provide a guarantee of the quality of their products. They use only natural raw materials without adding any dyes, preservatives or growth stimulants. They also go through heat treatment, which kills harmful microorganisms:
1. “Shchedra Niva” - intended for turkeys, ducks, quails, chickens, horses, pigs. As for poultry, when they consume this food, they begin to lay excellent eggs. And this is no coincidence, because the granules contain all the ingredients that a bird needs for good egg laying. It is recommended to use in the first phase of productivity - in other words, between the 20th and 40th weeks. The composition includes corn, soybean cake, wheat, sunflower cake, calcium phosphate, limestone, methionine, lysine, phytase, antioxidant, vegetable oil, salt and a whole complex of vitamins and minerals. If you need a good clutch from quails, then you should feed them with pellets after the birds have finished taking the starting mixtures - they do not always need to be given, but most often farmers use similar mixtures. As for pigs, the type of feed for them from Shchedra Niva contains all the components that the animal needs for good fattening. Intended for consumption of animals weighing from 35 to 60 kilograms. If you need to feed a lactating female, then this food will come to the rescue, because it contains all the substances necessary for the formation of good milk. And, as we remember, it is the granules that are able to retain the maximum amount of nutrients, and in the required dosage.
2. “Top food” - this food belongs to the premium class. It is recommended to purchase it not only when you need high-quality bait, but also when you doubt the quality of the genetic material of your pets. The secret that this brand is premium is the quality of the raw materials from which the food is made. It is the most expensive, but it is excellent for all types of animals. And not only species, but also ages - even newborn animals and newly hatched chicks can use it. If there are doubts about the health of young animals, it is even more recommended to give preference to this food. It is not for nothing that this brand, which has existed since 2009, has shown itself well in commercially oriented livestock farming. It is very difficult to track the inclusion in the waste of meat processing factories, because it often happens that all this spoils while still in the factories. However, Top-Kord refused in principle to include such raw materials, as well as other ingredients that could cause harm - hormones, growth stimulants, chemical additives and various components that contain animal protein. Instead, the composition is indicated by the following components - sunflower and soybean meal, cake, corn flour, various types of cereals, trace elements, minerals, vitamins, amino acids. The advantage of such food in the form of granules is that the constituent substances do not grind into dust during long-distance transportation and do not disintegrate. If you start using this food, you will quickly see how much grain use will decrease and the productivity of your pets will increase. By the way, this productivity will increase by as much as 15%-20%, if you compare it when feeding something else.
3. “BEST” is a company that, over a fairly long period of time, has managed to take a leading position in the market for the production of granulated feed. Now this brand is known in many regions of the Russian Federation. And it is not surprising, because there are a lot of advantages - for example, it is a reduction in the cost of poultry, because the level of feed consumption per kilogram of weight is reduced. In addition, thanks to granulation technology, the digestion process of feed is improved by approximately 20%, and the ingredients increase the shelf life of the product and serve as a guarantee of safety even if the feed is stored for a long time. The company took into account all the age-related needs that arise in poultry and approached each point carefully. "BEST" cooperates with the world's leading manufacturers of food additives from Germany and Holland. This collaboration allows for excellent results in feeding pigs, turkeys, broilers and cattle. With all this, a competent price-quality ratio is achieved. But, in addition to additives, the food contains about 22 components - these are various enzymes, microelements. After including all these components contained in granules of the same brand in the diet, there will no longer be a need for any additional feeding. And, of course, manufacturers made sure that the products were sterile, which is achieved through heat treatment. This food is divided into several types - “Start”, “Growth” and “Finish”. For example, the latter type includes a completely safe enzyme, which affects the bird’s excellent yellow color. There is another effect, not only aesthetic - when using any type of feed, the bird will subsequently have excellent taste.
4. “BEST Mix” is a good brand, suitable for raising not only birds, but also fish, rabbits, and pigs. As for piglets, they can start fattening literally from 6-8 weeks. The food includes such components as fish meal, seedings, soybean sprat, cake, sunflower sprat, shell, limestone, mineral complex, amino acids, a set of essential vitamins and minerals. As for fish, fish from the carp family grow excellently on this food.
As you can see, a feed granulator is an indispensable thing for those people who keep animals of various types, be it cattle or fish. If you need compound feed to feed these animals, then you are unlikely to do without a granulator. Of course, you don’t have to use it, but then how many benefits will be lost! Having spent money once on a granulator, you can save significantly in the future! Moreover, this applies to both owners of large farms and several representatives of the fauna. The resulting food will be extremely useful, stored for a long time and absolutely harmless. In addition, you can add vitamins and other nutrients to this food at your discretion. Agricultural enterprises in European countries have long appreciated all the advantages of this equipment, and livestock farming there has been at a good level for a long time. Therefore, we can safely say that the granulators have passed the quality certificate in practice.

1.1. MAIN METHODS FOR GRANULATING POWDERED MATERIALS

The transformation of dispersed materials into granules (grains) with specified physical and mechanical properties can be carried out in various ways.

In accordance with GOST 21669-76, the following terms and definitions are accepted in the feed industry.

Compound feed is a complex homogeneous mixture of various feedstuffs and microadditives, purified and crushed to the required size, produced according to scientifically based recipes and providing complete nutrition for animals.

Compound feed - feed with a high content of protein, minerals and microadditives, fed with grain, succulent or roughage to ensure biologically complete feeding of animals.

Complete feed - fully meeting the needs of animals for nutrients, minerals and biologically active substances.

Granulated feed - in the form

dense lumps of a certain shape and size.

Briquetted feed - in the form

tiles of geometrically regular shapes of certain sizes.

Mixed feed grits are a finished product obtained by grinding granulated feed.

Feed crumbs are a product formed by the destruction of granulated, briquetted feed and feed grits during their production, transportation and storage.

In technical literature, especially in foreign literature, hour - m| When describing the granulation processes and the characteristics of the main product, other terms are also used, in particular: pellets - granules, wafers - briquets - M. I and others. However, this terminology has not found wide practical application.

Fundamentally different methods are known for binding bulk materials into aggregates - rolling (rolling) and pressing (briquetting, tableting, granulating). The choice of method and means for compacting dispersed media depends on the physical and mechanical properties of the source material and the requirements for the quality indicators of the final product.

Below we discuss the basic schemes of technological processes of granulation, the principles of operation of machines, individual design and kinematic features of their working bodies, as well as factors affecting the process and product quality.

Roll granulation, a type of structural incremental granulation, can be compared to the process of forming a snowball. There are theories of layer-by-layer rolling (dry granulation process) and surface tension theory (wet granulation process). The main distinctive feature of the process is the movement (rolling) of the granulated mass over the surfaces of the apparatus, its working parts and the material itself. Consequently, when granulating using this method, the most favorable possibilities for adhesion of powder particles are selected.

The kinetics of the process and the mechanism of granule formation can be clarified by studying the operation of the drum apparatus. Bulk material entering a rotating horizontal or inclined drum is treated at the entrance with a highly dispersed liquid, in most cases water or aqueous solutions of other substances. Therefore, one of the main conditions for the formation of granules is the hydrophilicity of the raw material. When wetting, the powder particles are connected through adsorption, capillary and surface tension forces, roll over the surfaces of the apparatus, each other and are embedded in the granules at the final stage* of the process. As a result, the product acquires a spherical shape, a certain density and size.

Granulation by rolling is carried out in a circulating-rolling flow of the processed bulk substance on drums, plates (discs), conical, bladed or in a developed circulation flow of the substance on vibrating and other similar devices. When rolling, most materials need to be moistened or binders added to them. Technical and economic indicators of technology and

The quality of the finished product depends on the physical and chemical properties of the source material, technological and design factors of the process and the equipment used.

Serial equipment for pelletizing food and other bulk materials is low-productivity (up to 1 t/h), has large metal consumption and dimensions.

For the first time in the country, granulated feed on a disk granulator was produced by the Institute of Fuels (IGI) in 1964 at the Novotulsky Metallurgical Plant. In the subsequent years 1965-1966. IGI, together with the All-Russian Research Institute of Grain, conducted experiments on the granulation of mixed feed on disk granulators with a diameter of 1500 and 3000 mm. Research has established the influence of particle size of loose feed on granulation, the main stages of technology and granulation modes.

At the Brattsevskaya poultry farm there was a workshop for the production of granulated feed for chickens, adult poultry and fish using the pellet method.

The main stages of the technological process when granulating mixed feed using this method are: grinding the feed to the required particle size, dosing and moistening, rolling the moistened feed on a disk granulator, drying the granules in special installations and sorting the granules into fractions.

The main disadvantages are the low (up to 1 t/h) line productivity with significant dimensions of the main technological equipment (granulator diameter 3 m), high energy intensity caused by the need to grind feed to a particle size of no more than 0.3 mm and moisturize up to 40-42% with subsequent drying and ranul up to 14-15%, a slight increase in the volumetric mass of the finished product compared to loose feed. In addition, the granules are heterogeneous in size (from 2 to 30 mm) and composition and with a relatively higher nutrient absorption.

Institute of Technical Thermophysics of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences - fioi. jna installation USG-1, the operating principle of which is based on the high-speed rolling method. The components of the milling machine are: the high-speed granulator itself,<мльсатор для приготовления эмульсий или растворов,

< сміїїопное устройство для сушки гранул в псевдоожижен­ном слое и классификатор, разделяющий гранулы на тре - г. и"мыс фракции. Оборудование предназначено для грану - .пфоиания различных порошкообразных материалов: мед­

drugs, diamond powders, catalysts, fertilizers and animal feed. The sizes of granules produced at the installation range from 0.3 to 6 mm. The USG-1 installation has been in operation at the Banga fish farm in the Latvian SSR since 1977.

Granulation by pressing is one of the most common methods in industry of binding bulk materials into aggregates, which refers to typical processes aimed at obtaining a certain structure using external mechanical influences. For this purpose, forming (pressing the material in a closed matrix), rolling (pressing the material between rolls) and extruding installations are used. The essence of the process is volumetric compression and shear of the compressed mixture, in most cases its plasticization and structuring and then the formation of the mass into granules.

Briquetting is based on the principle of molding materials in a closed volume in order to give it strictly defined shapes and sizes. The main operation that ensures the necessary compaction of the starting products is pressing. The process is characterized by optimal values ​​of the achieved parameters of pressure and pressing speed, which are of paramount importance for the technical and economic indicators of technology and product quality (Martynenko Ya. F., 1975, etc.).

In technology, presses of periodic action (stamp, lever, rotary, hydraulic, etc.) and continuous rotational principle (ring, roller) are used. The most widely used are roller presses, characterized by their simple design, low metal and energy consumption, and high productivity.

By pressing on roller presses, briquetted coal, wood, plastics, metal products, food products, etc. are produced.

This method is also used to produce briquettes for cattle at inter-collective farm feed mills, which contain chopped straw, grass cuttings, dry beet pulp, concentrates and molasses. Briquetted feed is produced in both round shapes with a diameter of up to 130 mm, and in the form of oval or rectangular tiles with dimensions of 35X X 35 mm, 40 X 60 mm, trapezoidal briquettes with a cross section of 30 X 40 mm, 55 X 65 mm, etc. The energy intensity of the briquetting process is 40-50% lower compared to with granulation, which is explained by the possibility of using loose feed with a particle size of more than 10 mm (B$-

Lyaevsky Yu. M., Sazonova I. N., 1977; Artyushin A. A., Rey-ssvich A. A., 1980, etc.).

Since 1964, a number of farms in Belarus have used briquetted feed for feeding fish. Mechanized lines for their preparation are located directly in fish farms. They consist of a green vegetation chopper, two feed dispensers, a feed mixer and a peat briquette press. Briquettes are produced weighing 0.09-0.1 kg, humidity up to 18% and density more than one. The crushability of briquettes does not exceed 5%, and the water resistance is within 2.5-3 hours. It is also important that when producing briquetted feed, up to 10-35% of local raw materials, green mass, and waste from various industries are introduced into their composition.

Granulation by extrusion, depending on the technology for preparing the initial powder material, can be carried out in two ways - wet and dry. During wet granulation, the pressed mass is first converted into a paste-like plasticized state using a dispersion medium (viscous liquids, water), and then subjected to molding and crystallization.

The first workshop for the production of granulated feed by wet pressing in our country was put into operation in 1956 at the Saratov feed mill. The technology for producing granules included control sifting of the feed, moistening with hot water to 33-37% to form a dough-like mass, pressing the mixture, drying the granules to standard humidity, cooling and sifting the granules. For this purpose, screw presses used in the pasta industry MPD-11, GMP-TA * and a continuous shaft dryer VIS-2 were used. The workshop produced granulated feed for laying hens. Due to the low productivity of screw presses (up to L"00 kg/h) and the significant energy intensity of the process, this technology has not found wide application.

Due to significant energy intensity, lack of special equipment and insufficient development of technology, industrial wet granulation of feed has not been introduced in our country. Abroad, wet pressing is recommended to be used mainly in the production of granulated feed for trout. The feasibility of this method is explained by the physical properties of the pressed mass, the humidity of which exceeds

30% due to the presence of up to 50% waste from the Meat and Dairy industry in the feed.

In Japan and a number of other countries, food is produced in small quantities using the tableting method for the industrial cultivation of valuable species of fish and animals, as well as for domestic animals. This pressing method is the direct molding of bulk products into tablets of specified sizes and shapes. Due to the specific nature of the tableting mechanism, the product is significantly compacted, resulting in an increase in its strength. Tablet feed does not disintegrate in water for a long time and retains its nutritional value. The most common eccentric (impact) and rotary tableting machines available in industry are low-productive, and the technological process, due to the need for fine grinding of the pressed mass, is energy-intensive.

There are known tableting machines from a number of foreign companies that produce tablets coated with special films. The method of coating food products and other products with film-forming substances is becoming increasingly widespread in world practice. Abroad, film-forming polymers, high-protein substances, industrial fats, etc. are used for this purpose.

In our country, work to increase the water resistance of granulated fish feed by coating their surface with hydrophobic substances was carried out by VNIIKP, VNIIPRH, Lvov Order of Lenin Polytechnic Institute (LOLPI), etc. Substances such as starch, technical fat, paraffin, bentonite clay, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. However, granules with artificial coating have a number of disadvantages that reduce the efficiency of their production and use. The technology for processing granules with various film-forming substances is also insufficiently developed. As a result, despite certain interest and promise, this method also did not find industrial application.

The most widespread method, both in our country and abroad, is the method of dry granulation of mixed feed. After control for impurities, the loose feed is fed into a pressing unit, where it is processed with steam and, by squeezing the mixture through the holes of the matrix, it is formed into granules, which, after cooling on a special column and sifting, are sent to the finished product warehouse. Pressing modes are selected based on ensuring the technical productivity of the installation with the required quality indicators of the granules. In cooled granules, depending on their purpose, the presence of up to 5-10% of small particles (passage of a sieve with holes with a diameter of 2 mm) of compound feed is allowed. If necessary, grits are produced from granules.

Dry pressing technology has a number of advantages compared to other granulation methods: the presence of high-performance (up to 10-30 t/h) pressing equipment with relatively low power consumption (15-20 kW-h/t). In addition, steam treatment helps to achieve the required sanitary and hygienic quality indicators of feed.

Currently, the dry granulation method is used in the feed industry in the production of products for all types of farm animals, poultry and fish.

The key to high productivity when raising poultry and livestock is a balanced diet of feed. The most preferable are grain-based feeds enriched with vitamins, proteins, additives, and microelements. They are produced for feeding domestic animals, poultry, and fish.

In addition to nutritional value, granulated feed has other advantageous differences. It is designed for long-term storage without loss of beneficial properties. Can be transported in bulk and in bags, eliminating losses.

The output is different types of products: loose, briquetted and granular mixtures.

The technological process for preparing granules involves crushing and grinding of raw materials in hammer crushers. Then comes mixing with the ingredients and pressing the mixture to obtain the desired rations. The granulation process is facilitated by the addition of water or steam. Sometimes moisture is provided by components contained directly in the feed. Molasses is also used as a binding element. It is estimated that when producing a ton of pellets, the energy consumption can be 10-12 liters. s.-h.

Granular mixtures are produced in the United States of America, Canada, and Great Britain. The proportions are selected based on what type of pet the feed is intended for and how much they can eat at one time.

Universal, suitable for use in the livestock and poultry industries, while granules d 3.2 and 4.8 mm have become the most popular.

Poultry feed pellets

There are some differences in the size of pellets used in the diet of adult birds and chickens.

Granulating machines do not always guarantee uniform length and diameter of granules. The failures do not affect the chickens. A chicken cannot swallow large food, it needs smaller substances, and larger ones go to waste.

Until recently, 2.4 mm pellets were produced for feeding chickens. But they turned out to be unsuitable for this category of birds, and their production was unprofitable. The efficiency of granulating matrices increases noticeably when producing grits from granules with a caliber of 4.8 mm. The food becomes homogeneous and is well digestible. As a result, grains are recognized as a mass feed for raising broiler chickens.

The optimal nutrition for chickens under 56 days of age is considered to be grains of smooth and small fractions. Next, chickens can feed on pellets with a diameter of 3.2 mm. It is possible to reduce feeding of kibble to 5-6 weeks if the growing process is accelerated.

3.2 mm granules or large grains can be introduced into the diet of battery-fed hens throughout the entire growing period. Granulated bird feed is the most acceptable and economical diet that ensures high egg production.

Adults are shown granules with a diameter of 4.8 mm.

Round granules Ø 3.2; 4; 4.4; 4.8 mm is made for feeding adult poultry. The same size feed is suitable for sheep.

The English matrix from Richard Sizer provides high efficiency in the production of granules. The use of this form with holes d 2.4 mm does not require a grinding operation, which produces 30-40% of the fractions that are recycled again.

Cattle pellets

The production of compound feed also includes the production of pellets for growing cattle for meat. This category of animals is intended for pellets whose length is slightly greater than their thickness. The proportions can be as follows: if the cross section is 12.7 mm, then the length is 16 mm; with a diameter of 4.8 mm, the length will be 6.3 mm. Based on the needs of farms, the length of the granules can be increased.

Depending on the age of the animals, granules of different configurations and sizes are produced and used. Lumps of diameters 3.2; 4; 4.4; 4.8 mm is suitable for calves up to three months. In the life cycle stage from 3 to 6 months, compound feed Ø 9.5 is recommended; 12.7 or 15.9 mm. During periods when meat mass is growing (individuals are 6-10 months old), food with a diameter of 9.5 is preferable; 12.7; 15.9 mm. At the same time, it is allowed to give calves granulated feed of a square configuration: 9.5 * 9.5; 12.7*12.7 and 15.9*15.9 mm. Granules with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of up to 25 are also produced for calves, and 9.5 and 12.7 mm are used in small portions when fattening pigs.

When solving the problem of rapid beef production, it is possible to use pellets of the named calibers for feeding calves up to three months of age.

Round and square granules, the d of which is equal to 19 mm and 19 * 19 mm, respectively, are given to cows during the period when they produce milk. Briquette feed of various volumes is prepared in order to be used as top dressing on pastures.

Matrices for the production of granules of different sizes are produced by Socam (France). At the output, it is possible to obtain granulated mixtures of the following diameters intended for poultry, cattle and other domestic animals:

• 3 mm - for chickens and young laying hens;
• 4 mm - chickens;
• 5 mm - rabbits;
• 7 mm - calves, sheep, rabbits;
• 16.5 and 23.5 mm - for adult cattle and horses.

Square pellets measuring 14*14 mm are also produced for cows, bulls, and horses.

One of the means of increasing the productivity of farm animals and poultry is the production of feed in the form of granules.
Granular feed has the following advantages over loose feed:
- in each granule the composition of the feed is the same, and when feeding the animals receive a maximum of nutrients. There is no loss of feed when feeding granules;
- granulated feed is more transportable, less exposed to the external environment, and takes up less volume;
- when moving granules there is no self-sorting, the spray of the product is reduced.
Granular feed is produced for all farm animals, poultry and fish.
The granules have a cylindrical shape, their size depends on the type of animal and their age. Feed granules for young poultry should be produced with a diameter of 2-3 mm, for adult poultry and fish - no more than 5 mm, for piglets - 8 mm, for adult pigs - 10 mm.
Feed can be granulated in factories in two ways - dry and wet. The wet method is used mainly in the production of fish pellets, as this ensures the resistance of the pellets from getting wet.
With the dry granulation method, loose feed is treated with steam or mixed with liquid ingredients (molasses, hydrol), and then pressed on special presses. The most powerful and effective for pelleting mixed feed is the DG type unit. Figure 119 shows the technological diagram of this installation. Before pelleting, the feed is pre-moistened and steamed.

The prepared feed, received in feeder 4, when transferred to mixer 1, is moistened with hot water at a temperature of 80°C. Water comes under pressure from nozzles 2. The moisture content of the feed entering the feeder should not be more than 12-14%. In mixer I, the feed is treated with dry steam at a temperature of 120-140°C, coming from two steam chambers 11, closed on top with a mesh with holes 0 6 mm. The mixed and moistened feed enters the pressing chamber 5, in which there are pressing rollers and a matrix through the holes of which the feed is pressed. The temperature of the granules leaving the pressing chamber reaches 50-80° C. The hot granules are sent to cooler 6, where they are cooled by a stream of air sucked through the cooler.
Cooled granules (if they do not need to be crushed) are sifted on sieves with holes 0 2-2.5 mm to separate crumbs and mealy particles.
Depending on the size of the matrix holes, granules are produced with a diameter of 3, 5, 10, 17 and 19 mm.
When producing pellets for chickens, when leaving the cooler, they are crushed into granules in a grinder 9, in which grinding rollers 7 are installed. A transfer valve 8 is used to direct the granules for grinding. The size of the grinding of the granules is adjusted by changing the size of the gap between the rollers. Upon exiting the grinder, the crushed product is sifted to separate mealy particles from the grain. The grains are sorted on a sifting machine with two sieves. Coming from the upper sieve, large particles are obtained, which are returned to the grinder; from the lower sieve, finished grits are obtained; and by passing, a mealy product is obtained, which is again sent for pressing.
In cases where the granules should not be crushed, valve 8 is turned to the right and the granules come out, bypassing the rollers.
The efficiency of the granulator press is influenced by the quality of preparation of the ingredients, the composition of the recipe, the moisture content of the products, the diameter of the granules, the thickness of the matrix, and the degree of wear of the matrix.
The granulation process involves exposing the feed to moisture, heat and pressure, resulting in physical and chemical changes.
To reduce the cost of granulated feed and at the same time increase their nutritional value, work is being done to replace the processing of feed with steam by treating it as a binder with salted hydrol, which has a strong binder property. The granules are stronger, less moist, and the loss of vitamin A is only 8% instead of 30% when using steam.
Wet granulation is carried out on screw presses. For granulation, it is necessary to use loose compound feed, finely ground and without films. To control this feed, use a sieve with holes with a diameter of no more than 2 mm.
Hot water at a temperature of 70-80°C is added to the sifted feed in the kneader of the press in such a way as to bring the moisture content of the mass to 34-35%. The granules obtained after the press are blown with a stream of air to remove surface moisture, cooled, sifted to remove powdery particles and sent to the finished product warehouse.
Produced pellets, especially those produced for fish, must be checked for swelling. The swelling of granules is characterized by the length of time from the moment they are immersed in water until they lose their original shape. The swelling time of granules for fish is at least 15 minutes, and for poultry and pigs - 3 minutes.

In connection with the widespread introduction into practice of the method of preparing and feeding feed to farm animals, many studies have been carried out to determine the effect of these feeds on the physiological processes of digestion and on the digestive organs of animals.
In finishing steers fed pellets alone, there was a decrease in the strength of rumen contractions, but no significant difference in the number of rumen contractions was noted. During 4-6 months of feeding with pellets, bulls undergo partial erasing of the papillae of the rumen mucosa, but this, according to many researchers, does not negatively affect the absorption of nutrients through the rumen wall into the blood.

Compared to growing young animals, ruminal fermentation occurs less intensely and food passes more quickly from the proventriculus to other parts of the digestive canal. Education in young cattle livestock A larger amount of saliva between chewing periods compared to adult animals contributes to better wetting of the feed and increases the buffering of the rumen contents. All this allowed researchers involved in the study to consider it possible and advisable to use complete pellets prepared with the inclusion of roughage as the only feed for fattening bulls.
Granules prepared with the addition of roughage, as the only feed in feeding dairy cows and replacement upskirt not suitable.
Experiments carried out in the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany, in which dairy cows were fed alone granules over a longer period of time, showed that in animals not only productivity and fat content in milk decrease, but also rumen activity and health deteriorate. The force of contraction of the scar decreases, and the number of contractions decreases by 1.5-2 times. Cows develop acidosis and ketosis. To improve the functioning of the rumen and increase the digestion of nutrients, according to experts, the total amount of all components of the diet should contain at least 35% of feed (calculated on a dry matter basis), crushed into particles longer than 8 mm. It is believed that in the diet of cows consuming 18-22 kg of dry matter per day, 7-9 kg of which should be bulk feed (silage, hay, etc.). It is usually recommended to feed granulated feed mixtures with no more than 50-60% nutritional content. In this case, the productivity of cows increases.
Prolonged feeding of heifers with granulated feed alone also leads to negative results. It has been established that when feeding heifers from 4 to 12 months of age with hay, silage and concentrates, weight gain upskirt were approximately 100 g per day higher than when feeding them straw-grain pellets with the addition of diammonium phosphate. The amount of dry matter in the diets of heifers of both groups was similar, 5.1 and 5.5 kg, respectively, but the content of digestible protein was 25% less in the diet consisting of pellets. After 8 months of feeding, it was revealed that in heifers receiving pelleted feed, the muscular layer of the rumen wall was weak, and fat deposits were observed along the blood vessels. The force of rumen contraction was 4 times, and the frequency of contractions was 40% less than in heifers that were fed in the usual way. Digestion of feed was also different. The overall digestibility of nutrients was lower when feeding the granulated feed mixture. Moreover, digestibility decreased significantly in the stomach. In the intestines, it increased slightly compared to the digestibility of nutrients in heifers receiving non-pelleted feed. When protein digestibility was low in heifers that consumed pellets, nitrogen utilization was higher.
In heifers of breeding age, the undesirable consequences of feeding only pellets were even more obvious. Experiments were carried out on heifers with a live weight of 400-450 kg, in which animals in the control group received a diet consisting of 57.2%, 14.3% alfalfa hay, 28.5% barley hay in terms of nutritional value. From mineral feed, heifers received 50 g of diammonium phosphate per day. Granules consisted of 68.30% artificially dried green corn, 14.9% alfalfa, 16.8% barley turf and 12 g of diammonium phosphate per 1 kg of mixture. The heifers of the experimental group received 9 kg of pellets, 1 kg of which contained 0.7 feed. units and 118-120 kg of digestible protein. Animals in the control group were given natural food in the following quantities: corn silage - 20 kg, alfalfa hay - 2, barley derti - 2 kg. The diets for both groups of animals were equivalent in dry matter and digestible protein. was different. In the control diet, heifers ate 84.5% of the specified amount of silage, granules- by 92.2%. Taking into account the actually eaten feed, the total nutritional value of the diet of heifers in the control group was 6.6 feed units, and in the experimental group - 6.3 feed units. units In heifers that received granules, the intensity of rumen work decreased. The time for chewing has also decreased several times. stern. As a result, the nutrients in the pellets were less digested than in a multi-component diet consisting of non-pellet feed. Moreover, all nutrients were digested 5-7% less.

In connection with the widespread introduction into practice of the method of preparing and feeding feed in granular form to farm animals, many studies have been carried out to determine the effect of these feeds on the physiological processes of digestion and on the digestive organs of animals.

In finishing steers fed pellets alone, there was a decrease in the strength of rumen contractions, but no significant difference in the number of rumen contractions was noted. During 4-6 months of feeding with pellets, bulls undergo partial erasing of the papillae of the rumen mucosa, but this, according to many researchers, does not negatively affect the absorption of nutrients through the rumen wall into the blood. Compared to adult cattle, in growing young animals, ruminal fermentation occurs less intensely and food passes more quickly from the proventriculus to other parts of the digestive canal. The formation of a larger amount of saliva in young cattle compared to adult animals between periods of chewing promotes better wetting of feed and increases the buffering of rumen contents. All this allowed researchers involved in the feeding and physiology of animal nutrition to consider it possible and advisable to use complete pellets prepared with the inclusion of roughage as the only feed when fattening bulls.

Pellets prepared with the addition of roughage are not suitable as the only feed for feeding dairy cows and replacement heifers.

Experiments carried out in the German Democratic Republic and Germany, in which dairy cows were fed pellets alone for a longer period of time, showed that not only the productivity and fat content of milk decreases in animals, but also rumen activity and health deteriorate. The force of contraction of the scar decreases, and the number of contractions decreases by 1.5-2 times. Cows develop acidosis and ketosis. To improve the functioning of the rumen and increase the digestion of nutrients, according to experts, the total amount of all components of the diet should contain at least 35% of feed (calculated on a dry matter basis), crushed into particles longer than 8 mm. It is believed that in the diet of cows consuming 18-22 kg of dry matter per day, 7-9 kg of which should be bulk feed (silage, hay, etc.). It is usually recommended to feed granulated feed mixtures with no more than 50-60% nutritional content. In this case, the productivity of cows increases.

Prolonged feeding of heifers with granulated feed alone also leads to negative results. It was found that when feeding heifers from 4 to 12 months of age with hay, silage and concentrates, the weight gain of heifers was approximately 100 g per day higher than when feeding them straw-grain pellets with the addition of grass meal and diammonium phosphate. The amount of dry matter in the diets of heifers of both groups was similar, 5.1 and 5.5 kg, respectively, but the content of digestible protein was 25% less in the diet consisting of pellets. After 8 months of feeding, it was revealed that in heifers receiving pelleted feed, the muscular layer of the rumen wall was weak, and fat deposits were observed along the blood vessels. The strength of rumen contraction was 4 times, and the frequency of contractions was 40% less than in heifers that were fed hay, silage and concentrates in the usual way. Digestion of feed was also different. The overall digestibility of nutrients was lower when feeding the granulated feed mixture. Moreover, digestibility decreased significantly in the stomach. In the intestines, it increased slightly compared to the digestibility of nutrients in heifers receiving non-pelleted feed. When protein digestibility was low in heifers that consumed pellets, nitrogen utilization was higher.

In heifers of breeding age, the undesirable consequences of feeding only pellets were even more obvious. Experiments were carried out on heifers with a live weight of 400-450 kg, in which animals in the control group received a diet consisting of 57.2% corn silage, 14.3% alfalfa hay, 28.5% barley turf in terms of nutritional value. From mineral feed, heifers received 50 g of diammonium phosphate per day. The granules consisted of 68.30% artificially dried green corn, 14.9% alfalfa, 16.8% barley dirt and 12 g diammonium phosphate per 1 kg of mixture. The heifers of the experimental group received 9 kg of pellets, 1 kg of which contained 0.7 feed. units and 118-120 kg of digestible protein. Animals in the control group were given natural food in the following quantities: corn silage - 20 kg, alfalfa hay - 2, barley derti - 2 kg. The diets for both groups of animals were equivalent in dry matter and digestible protein. The palatability of the feed varied. In the control diet, heifers ate 84.5% of the specified amount of silage, and 92.2% of pellets. Taking into account the actually eaten feed, the total nutritional value of the diet of heifers in the control group was 6.6 feed units, and in the experimental group - 6.3 feed units. units In heifers receiving pellets, the intensity of rumen work decreased. The time for chewing food has also decreased several times. As a result, the nutrients in the pellets were less digested than in the multicomponent diet, being from non-pelleted feed. Moreover, all nutrients were digested 5-7% less.

Just as when feeding dairy cows, the greatest effect from feeding pellets is achieved when they are given no more than 50-60% nutritional value in a mixture with silage and other bulky feeds.