Development of a Pelletizing System of Fermented TMR for Pig Feeding

Purpose: Fermented feedstuffs have been found to improve productivity, reduce manure odor, and increase immunity. However, because there is not a commercialized pelletizing system for fermented total mixed ration (TMR) for pig feeding in Korea, a pelletizing system using TMR fermented feed was developed. Methods: The particle size, density, and volumetric density of the TMR feeds used in the test were measured. The pellet durability index (PDI, %) value of the pelletized TMR feed based on its moisture content, and the amount of pellet production based on the rotation speed of the compression roller were measured. Results: The test materials, TMR1 and TMR2, were approximately compressed to 387 kg/m3 with 18.2% (w.b.) and 544 kg/m3 with 22.2% (w.b.), respectively. Throughout this pellet molding test, the moisture content from 15 to 20% (w.b.) of mixture feedstuffs, including fermented forage, could be used for pellet molding. Based on the results, a small-scale pellet molding system of fermented TMR was designed and manufactured for pig farms. As rotation speed increased, the throughput increased, whereas the moisture content decreased by approximately 2% (w.b.) because of pellet molding. The best yield of pellets with 94.2% PDI was of 536 kg/h at 135 rpm rotation speed. Conclusions: Although the throughput of the prototype increased as the rotation speed increased, it was difficult to operate because of the greater noise and the lower PDI (%) at the higher rotation speed of the pellet molding rotor. It was found that the best production of pellets using the prototype was 536 kg/h having a PDI of 94.2% or more at a rotation speed of 135 rpm.