Figure 1. Comparison of beadlet and spray-dried formation.
manufactured as a fine granular product with high stability and also high flowability, low dustiness, and low caking characteristics. Cross-linked beadlets are produced by coating vitamins with crosslinked gelatin proteins, which makes harder beadlets that are more resistant to the pressure and abrasion of pelleting. The inclusions of antioxidants in the beadlets provide additional protection against oxidative factors.
Conclusions The stability of vitamins for feed processing continues to improve. Most vitamins exhibit good stability (90 to 100% at 180°F), although other factors influence survivability. Product formulations differ and commercial vitamin manufacturers have succeeded in enhancing
differences exist in survivability across commercial formulations.
stability of vitamins with spray-drying and beadlet technologies
Additional supplementation rates are often employed to compensate
(Figure1). Spray-dried vitamin products are manufactured as a fine
for pelleting losses. Vitamins can be destabilized in premixes with
powder with high stability and good uniformity of mix, but only fair quality
inorganic trace minerals, and the losses can be increased when choline
in terms of flow ability, dustiness, and caking. Beadlets are produced
chloride is present. Along with survival determinations for vitamins at
by coating vitamins in gelatin or starch to prevent contact with factors
the pellet, consideration is needed for a time lag of several weeks or
affecting vitamin stability until it is digested by the animal. Beadlets are
more between manufacture and consumption of that feed.
NWF Agriculture: Committing to British Agriculture for another 150 years NWF Agriculture, has made a major investment at its Wixland Mill
West. “We have some exciting developments taking place at the site in
in Atherington, Devon as part of its business strategy of growth
terms of the infrastructure and we hope to extend our product offering
and commitment to British agriculture for another 150 years.
for farmer collections. Substantial investment has also been made in
NWF Agriculture, which started in 1871 as a farmer-owned trading
our delivery fleet and currently operate eight NWF branded lorries from
company, now forms part of the NWF Group plc, listed on the AIM
our Wixland feed mill, the latest addition being a Volvo FM420 Triden
market. The business marks its 150 Anniversary this year and has
8X4 Rigid”, added Claire.
th
made a substantial investment at the South West mill ahead of the next 150 years.
In June NWF celebrate its 150th Anniversary, and the Wixland team and the local NWF sales team are delighted to be part of a business
The UFAS approved production site has received £120,000 of
that has been supporting British farmers for over 150 years. Over the
investment to further improve the storage and production facilities
past century and a half, the business has grown and is supplying over
ensuring that they continue to offer a comprehensive high-quality
4750 farmers and feeding over 100,000 dairy cows, beef cattle and
consistent range of compounds and blends for dairy, beef and sheep.
sheep every day.
To further improve the blends NWF have installed a Christy Turner roller
Andrew Mason, Southern Sales Director, added, “We have
mill that runs at a rate of ten tonnes per hour rolling locally sourced
an experienced sales team operating across the South West which
wheat, barley and maize. This installation is an improvement of 8 tonnes
has been further strengthened by the appointment of two new team
per hour whilst still delivering excellent quality.
members to work with farmers closer to the Wixland feed mill. The
New Operations Manager, Claire Ebdy, joined the business in
recent appointments came through the NWF Academy Scheme which
January and brings a wealth of experience to the site at Wixland from
trains future farm advisors and is currently recruiting a third intake for
her previous roles in manufacturing and distribution. Commenting
September. All our ruminant sales specialists are registered advisors
on the investment, Claire said, “We have also invested in a new 12
with the Feed Adviser Register (FAR) and work in partnership with
metre mixing screw at the blends out loading point which allows up to
livestock farmers to offer cost-effective rations that perform”.
3% molasses to be added to the blend in addition to the 2% already in the mixer. This new equipment also offers the option to add 4mm pellets and 6mm nuts to blends such as Calf Startrite or Vital Rearer. The majority of raw materials used in our diets are sourced locally and those from further afield are from leading long-standing suppliers with full traceability.” NWF Agriculture is proud to be a British business with a strong presence in the South West. The experienced team of 29 employees at Wixland between them have over 240 years’ service in manufacturing and delivering high-quality feeds that perform on farm across the South
The NWF Wixland Team
Feed Compounder May/June 2021 Page 47
