Does the fact that quality control is maintained throughout the entire fish food production line ensure that every batch of extruded feed pellets meets quality standards?

Nov 10, 2025

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If a production line processes extruded feed without regard to quality, problems such as moldy batches or insufficient nutrition are likely to occur. When farmers buy these feeds for their animals, the animals may grow slowly or even become ill. In fact, reputable production lines implement multi-layered quality control during processing, testing quality at every step. Below, we'll discuss the key aspects of quality control.

Products Five key tests

The first inspection is the "raw material incoming inspection," which checks the "freshness and purity" of the raw materials. After the raw materials arrive at the factory, samples are taken to test the moisture content-the moisture content of corn and soybean meal cannot exceed 14%, otherwise it is prone to mold; the moisture content of fishmeal cannot exceed 10%, otherwise it will have a fishy smell and spoilage. The purity of the raw materials is also tested; for example, impurities in soybean meal cannot exceed 1%, and the protein content in fishmeal must reach 60% or more (meeting feed-grade standards). If the raw materials fail to meet the standards, they are returned immediately to prevent "bad raw materials" from entering the production line for making fish meals.

The second inspection is the "post-mixing inspection," which checks the "uniformity" of the mixed powder. After the mixer thoroughly mixes the raw materials and additives, five samples are taken from different locations, and the additive content (e.g., vitamin content) in each sample is tested. If the additive content error of the five samples is within ±5%, it indicates uniform mixing; if the error exceeds 10%, the mixture must be remixed until it meets the standards. Unevenly mixed feed can lead to nutritional imbalances in animals; for example, some pellets may be high in vitamins while others are low, which can negatively impact growth in the long run.

The third test is the "post-expansion test," which checks the "expansion degree and water resistance" of the pellets. Freshly extruded pellets are first tested for expansion degree-by dividing the pellet volume by the raw material volume. Fish and shrimp feed should have an expansion degree of 2.5-3 times to float on water; pet food should have an expansion degree of 1.8-2.2 times, resulting in compact, non-loose pellets. Next, water resistance is tested-the pellets are soaked in 25°C water. Fish and shrimp feed should remain intact for 3 minutes, and pet food for 2 minutes. If these standards are not met, the extrusion temperature or screw speed is adjusted until acceptable.

The fourth test is the "post-cooling test," which checks the "moisture content and hardness" of the pellets. After cooling, the moisture content of the pellets should be reduced to 12%-14%, measured with a moisture meter. If the moisture content exceeds 14%, the pellets must be re-cooled to prevent mold growth. Hardness is tested using a pellet hardness tester. Fish and shrimp feed should have a hardness of 1.5-2 kg/cm²; too hard and fish and shrimp won't be able to chew it. Pet food should have a hardness of 2.5-3 kg/cm²; too soft and it will easily break. If the hardness is not up to standard, adjust the cooling time or puffing pressure of the floating fish food making production line.

The fifth test is the "finished product inspection," a comprehensive check-up. Before packaging, samples are taken to test nutritional components (protein and fat content), microorganisms (presence of mold and E. coli), and the uniformity of pellet size (non-compliant pellets cannot exceed 5%). Only after all indicators meet national standards can the feed be labeled and shipped, ensuring that farmers receive qualified feed.

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