In the modern animal husbandry, the nutritional value and processing technology of feed directly affect the growth efficiency and health level of animals. As an efficient, environmentally friendly and energy-saving feed processing equipment, feed extruders have been widely used in the production of aquatic, poultry, pets and ruminant feed. With the continuous expansion of the scale of breeding, feed extruders with different functions, models and production capacities emerge in an endless stream. How to choose a device that truly suits their needs has become the focus of many breeders and feed factories. This article will comprehensively analyze the factors that should be considered when choosing feed extruders from multiple angles to help you make scientific and rational purchasing decisions.
A feed extruder is a device that physically treats raw materials through high temperature, high pressure and high shear force. Its main function is to mechanically extrude various feed raw materials (such as corn, soybeans, soybean meal, fish meal, etc.) to cook, expand and sterilize them, thereby improving nutrient absorption rate and feed digestibility. It also helps to form feed particles for easy storage and transportation.
Generally, feed extruders are suitable for processing puffed feed, aquatic feed, pet feed, etc., and are widely used in feed factories, aquaculture bases, special animal farms and pet food companies.
The feed extruder is mainly composed of a feeding system, a conditioner, a screw propulsion system, a mold forming system, a heating device and a cutting device. Its basic working process is as follows:
Raw material feeding: The prepared raw materials are fed into the machine body through the feeder.
Pre-treatment of conditioning: Some models are equipped with a conditioner, which preheats the raw materials through steam to improve the degree of maturation.
Screw propulsion: The main shaft screw rotates at high speed, and the raw materials are continuously extruded, stirred and sheared, and the temperature and pressure gradually increase.
Mold forming: The raw materials pushed by the screw are forced to pass through the die hole and instantly puffed under high temperature and high pressure.
Cutting and discharging: The cutter cuts the puffed feed into a specified length to form a granular finished product.
During the whole process, the raw materials not only undergo physical changes, but also chemical changes to a certain extent, such as protein denaturation and starch gelatinization, which effectively improves the palatability and nutritional value of the feed.
Before purchasing feed extruders, you should consider the following aspects according to your actual needs:
3.1 Breeding species
Fish and aquatic products: a dual-function extruder that can process floating and submerged feeds is required;
Livestock and poultry: the molding hardness requirements are low, and ordinary extruders are sufficient;
Pet feed: fine control functions are required to ensure taste and appearance;
Ruminants: high feed density and large particles are required, and pressurized enhanced extruders are required.
3.2 Daily production requirements
For small farms or family use: it is recommended to choose a small vertical equipment of 50-300 kg/hour;
Medium-sized feed mills or breeding cooperatives: medium-sized machines of 500-1500 kg/hour can be selected;
Large feed processing enterprises: large extrusion production lines of more than 3000 kg/hour should be considered.
3.3 Raw material type
Different raw materials (such as soybean meal, corn, fish meal, bone meal, grains, etc.) have different requirements for the adaptability of equipment. Raw materials with high oil content or high water content need to choose models with degreasing or pretreatment functions.
When selecting equipment, it is particularly important to understand the following technical parameters:
4.1 Screw diameter and structure
The screw is the core component that determines the extrusion efficiency and molding quality. Large screw diameter is suitable for high-volume operations, and twin-screw machines are suitable for product lines with variable raw materials and high molding requirements.
4.2 Main motor power
The greater the power, the stronger the driving force of the equipment, which is suitable for long-term continuous production.
Selection suggestion: 300-500 kg/hour models are suitable for 11kW~22kW motors.
4.3 Pelletizing system
The pelletizing device can adjust the particle length, which is an important factor affecting the consistency of appearance;
High-quality models are usually equipped with variable frequency speed cutters to meet different particle size requirements.
4.4 Heating control method
There are electric heating, steam heating, automatic temperature control and other types;
Precise temperature control is essential to prevent nutrient loss and control the puffing effect.
4.5 Cooling and drying system
After forming, the pellets need to be quickly cooled and dried to prevent agglomeration or deterioration;
You can choose an integrated cooling bin or a post-drying device.
As an important equipment to improve feed quality and production efficiency, the feed extruder is not only related to the control of breeding costs, but also directly affects the growth and health of animals. Choosing a feed extruder that suits your needs is not only an investment in equipment, but also lays a solid foundation for the future development of the enterprise.
In the actual purchase process, users should consider their own production needs, feed types, budget range and other dimensions, and communicate in depth with regular manufacturers or experienced equipment suppliers to ensure that they purchase a stable, efficient and easy-to-maintain feed extruder to ensure high-quality feed production.
If you are looking for a reliable feed extruder manufacturer or want to learn more about product model parameters, please contact us for professional selection suggestions and solutions!
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