|
|
|
One of the key objectives of companies raising commercial animals is to convert as much of their feed to animal weight as quickly, effectively, and efficiently as possible. At the same time, they want to maintain as high a quality feed at as low a cost as possible. Over the years, it has become more desirable to "form" the various feed ingredients used in various formulations into some form such as pellets, cubes, etc. This minimizes the loss of the feed as fine particles during handling and feeding operations. Pelleting is used to increase the efficiency of feeding. When feeding loose food, much is wasted because animals are not able to ingest powder or meal effectively, especially when feeding on the ground. Industrial Grain Products has developed a new idea and a new concept for improving the feed forming operation. The Pelletizing Process: Pelletizing is the most commonly used agglomerating process in the feed industry. It is used to convert finely ground feed ingredients into higher density, free-flowing agglomerates. One of the most common ways to form feeds to prevent fines is to "pelletize it." This involves intensive mixing of the feed ingredients at elevated temperatures and forcing it through a high-pressure/high-temperature die to form it into a pellet. There are many reasons used to justify the pelleting process. These include:
The pellets need to be highly durable so that they do not break up and create fines in downstream handling operations. The tougher or more durable the pellet the better. Many factors affect pellet quality or durability. Pellet durability or quality is commonly referred to by the term PDI or Pellet Durability Index. This is a number that describes the percentage of remaining pellets that are not reduced to fines after being agitated under controlled time and conditions by various mechanical means. One of the more common methods involves tumbling a weighed amount of pellets for a period of time, pouring the pellets across a prescribed screen and measuring the amount of pellets remaining. Another test device uses compressed air to circulate the pellets, similar to pneumatic conveying devices, and to remove the fines and determine the the percent of the remaining pellets. Although many feed components have natural binding characteristics, it is often necessary to use binders to provide good pellet durability. Pellet Binders: Pellet binders are products that are used to "bind", "glue" or hold the various feed components together in order that they will maintain pellet integrity during subsequent operations after they are extruded from the pellet die. Many products have been tested and a limited number have become widely used as binders in pelletized animal feeds. Current commercial animal feed binders can generally be classified under one of the following categories:
A number of the current binders in use are based on by-products from making wood and paper products. Some of the binders are mined minerals such as bentonite clays. In addition, there are numerous specialty binders that are based on certain types of products that are manufactured and/or selected or formulated for use as binders. Industrial Grain Products has furnished a specialty animal feed binder under the tradename Nutri-Binder for many years. This specialty binder is based on natural grains. The company utilizes a novel process for producing Nutri-Binder. Some recent development work, part of a continuous process and product development effort, has resulted in some significant understanding of binder characteristics required in a high performance binder. Because of this development work, Industrial Grain Products has just announced the commercialization of a new, high performance animal feed binder under the trade name Nutri-Binder® SUPER POWDER.
|
|
