Pelleted Feed Vs. Extruded Feed: Technical Process & Comparison

Pelleted Feed Vs. Extruded Feed

Pelleted and extruded feeds are common for horses, chickens, cattle, pigs, fish, and sheep. Both pellet feed and extruded feed offer distinct advantages in terms of digestibility, palatability, and convenience. The choice between the two depends on factors such as animal species, nutritional requirements, and production preferences.

Extruded Feed: High-Temperature Expansion Technology

Extrusion is a high temperature short time heating process, it minimizes the degradation of food nutrients while improving the digestibility of protein and starches. Extrusion requires higher levels of moisture, heat, and pressure than pelleting.

• Technical Parameters: Temperature higher than 100℃ is needed in order to achieve expansion of the feed as it leaves the die. Ingredients puff within 20 seconds, going from air-dried (10-12% moisture) at room temperature to 15-16% moisture at 80-90°C. During the subsequent compression and extrusion of the holes in the die, friction raises the feed temperature to nearly 92°C.
• Wet vs. Dry Extrusion: The high temperature in dry extrusion is acquired through dissipation of mechanical energy from heated surfaces such as barrel and screw surface, or generated by shear forces between wall and material and screw and material. For wet extrusion, the temperature is achieved through preconditioning and steam injection.

Benefits of Extruded Feed:

1. Improved Digestibility: The extrusion process breaks down complex carbohydrates and proteins, increasing the digestibility of nutrients in the feed.
2. Enhanced Palatability: Extruded feed often has a smoother texture and more desirable flavor, enticing animals to consume it readily.
3. Heat Treatment: Extrusion involves heat treatment, which can help to eliminate harmful bacteria and pathogens in the feed.
4. Versatility: Producers can customize extruded feed with various additives, supplements, and medications to meet specific animal nutrition requirements.
5. Reduced Anti-Nutritional Factors: The heat and pressure of extrusion can reduce or eliminate anti-nutritional factors present in raw ingredients, further enhancing the feed’s nutritional value.

extruded feed video

Pelleted Feed: Compression & Density Technology

Pelleting is the process to compress small particles into larger solid with a given shape and texture, which involves the combination of moisture, heat and pressure. Manufacturers heat and compress mash into pelleted feed, dense pellets with suitable protein, vitamins, and minerals.

• Technical Parameters: Generally, an amount of steam is added to the mash to increase its moisture content to approximately 16% and temperature to about 85 ℃ before passing through the pellet die.
• Key Factors: The main factors affecting pelleting are ingredients characteristics, moisturizing or steaming before pelleting, die thickness and binders ect. Pelleted feed quality generally influence by the quantity of fat, fiber and starch in the formula.

Benefits of Pellet Feed:

1. Enhanced Digestibility: The compact nature of pellet feed ensures consistent particle size and density, promoting better digestibility in animals.
2. Reduced Feed Waste: Pellets are less prone to separation and selective feeding, minimizing feed wastage and improving feed efficiency.
3. Nutrient Balance: Pelletization allows for precise control over ingredient composition, ensuring a balanced diet for livestock.
4. Convenient Handling: Pellets are easy to store, transport, and dispense, making them ideal for large-scale farming operations.
5. Reduced Dust and Fines: Pellet feed produces less dust and fines compared to other feed forms, creating a cleaner feeding environment for animals.

pellet feed video

Comparative Performance Matrix