Increasing Production Efficiency by Managing Moisture and Microbial Risk in Feed Manufacture By Lauren Judd, Product Manager Feed Additives, Trouw Nutrition GB
The use of surfactant additives in compound feed manufacture has
and compound feed. The surfactants in Fylax have the ability to lower
the potential to improve efficiency of production and storage while
the surface tension of water, improving the products anti-mould effect
contributing to the drive for reduced carbon footprints. They can be
as well as feed mill efficiency.
a valuable component of plans to unlock productive efficiencies. Feed manufacturing businesses should be constantly striving
It is generally added in the mixer prior to the conditioner but this can depend on the precise set up of the mill.
to drive production efficiencies to reduce costs per tonne produced. At the same time, climate change legislation requires reductions in
Figure 1: Moisture losses in different processes
power usage by a further 6%. Surfactants can have a significant role in three key areas of feed manufacture. By improving moisture retention they can improve the utilisation of raw materials and in addition prolong shelf life.
Moisture retention Loss of moisture is a cause of reduced yield of finished products, with commonly 2.5% moisture losses seen throughout the production cycle that have to be replaced. This means that for every 100 tonnes of raw materials, the yield of finished products is 97.5t. Moisture in feed comes from the base raw materials, is added
Power savings
at mixing and then molasses and stream can be added at the
Feed manufacturers are faced with a continuing demand to reduce
conditioning stage. Between 0.5-1.5% moisture is typically lost in
energy consumption. On most sites, the quick electricity savings have
grinding and cooling. With raw materials accounting for around 80%
been made with future changes often requiring capital expenditure
of total feed production costs, taking action to reduce moisture loss
to achieve the reductions.
will have an impact on potential profitability.
Adding extra moisture in the milling process comes with
Adding moisture to compensate for losses can lead to quality
implications for power usage. Steam is generally cheaper than other
issues, particularly if too much is added. If water is reintroduced
methods, vaporising water droplets and gelatinising starch to hold
before pressing, there is a risk of roller slippage resulting in poorer
pellets together. If you are unable to use steam then you are reliant
quality pellets.
on friction and pressure to ensure pellet quality.
The addition of Fylax helps to reduce extreme losses post-
By reducing the surface tension of moisture, Fylax ensures water
conditioning. As a surfactant, it reduces the surface tension of
is better dispersed and absorbed resulting in reduced power usage
moisture and helps achieve better dispersion throughout the
and a better quality product.
compounding process. Moisture adheres better leading to reduced
Figure 2, based on data from eight commercial trials, shows the
losses. While not eliminating moisture loss, Fylax helps flatten the
effect of the addition of Fylax on energy use and mill throughput with
moisture loss curve (see figure 1).
a 22.1% reduction in kW/t.
Fylax is a synergetic blend of organic acids and surfactants. It is produced using a technology that creates activated propionates. The
Mould inhibition for increased shelf life
activated propionates and organic acids effectively reduce moulds to
If moisture is added to feed to enhance conditioning, the presence of
guarantee the nutrient value and prolong the shelf life of raw materials
moulds is inevitable. Mould growth will negatively affect the nutritional
Page 30 May/June 2021 Feed Compounder
