What are the key considerations when selecting a poultry feed pellet making machine?

Nov 24, 2025

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Rumen digestion in cattle and sheep relies on the stimulation of crude fiber. Feed needs to retain an appropriate fiber length (1-3mm). The selection of an Alfalfa pellet mill should consider "crude fiber processing capacity, pellet hardness, and production efficiency," specifically focusing on three key aspects:

First, prioritize large-diameter ring die pellet mills to enhance crude fiber processing capacity. Crude fiber raw materials such as corn stalks, wheat stalks, and peanut vines account for 60%-70% of cattle and sheep feed, requiring feed production machines with strong extrusion and coarse grinding capabilities. It is recommended to choose a large ring die pellet mill with a ring die diameter of 150-200mm and a pressure roller diameter of 80-100mm, such as the NM1500 model. Its die orifice diameter of 3.5-5.0mm is suitable for processing crude fiber raw materials and avoids die orifice clogging. The grinding system of the equipment should adopt a "hammer blade + toothed claw" composite design. First, the hammer blades crush the straw to 5-10mm, and then the toothed claws further refine it to 1-3mm, ensuring that the fiber length meets the requirements of rumen digestion. Ordinary small pellet mills, due to insufficient grinding and extrusion capabilities, are prone to producing loose and poorly formed straw pellets, making them unsuitable for cattle and sheep feed production.

Secondly, controlling pellet hardness and density is crucial to match the rumen digestion rhythm. Overly hard pellets cause chewing difficulties, while overly soft pellets easily ferment in the rumen, leading to bloating. Feed manufacturing machines need to be able to precisely adjust pressure and temperature. When producing feed for adult cattle and sheep, the extrusion pressure should be controlled at 3-4 MPa, the temperature at 80-90℃, and the pellet hardness maintained at 15-20 N. When producing feed for calves and lambs, the pressure should be reduced to 2-3 MPa, the temperature at 70-80℃, and the hardness at 10-15 N to ensure the pellets are soft and easily digestible. Some high-end cattle and sheep pellet mills are equipped with pressure sensors and automatic adjustment systems that can automatically adjust the pressure according to the crude fiber content of the raw materials, requiring no manual intervention, making them especially suitable for beginners. In addition, the equipment must have good impurity removal capabilities. Impurities such as stones and wires that may be mixed in the straw can be filtered through the built-in magnetic separator and screen, preventing damage to the die head and pressure rollers.

Third, select equipment functions based on the farming model. For free-range cattle and sheep farmers with relatively small feed requirements, the NM1200 cattle feed manufacturing machine with an hourly output of 500-800 kg, equipped with a manual feeding system, is suitable. The equipment cost is relatively low (approximately 50,000-80,000 RMB). Large-scale farms (over 500 head) require the NM1800 model with an output of 1000-1500 kg/h, equipped with an automated batching and feeding system, supporting the proportional mixing of multiple raw materials such as corn stalks, soybean meal, and minerals to improve the nutritional balance of the feed. For winter farming, it is recommended to use a pellet mill with a heating function to raise the feed temperature to 40-50℃, preventing gastrointestinal discomfort caused by consuming cold feed. This type of equipment is particularly useful in northern regions.