Under the background of rapid development of modern animal husbandry, the performance of feed processing equipment directly affects the level of breeding benefits. As one of the core equipment in the feed mixing link, the horizontal feed mixer has become the first choice of many farms and feed processing companies with its advantages of high efficiency, uniformity and convenient operation. So, what types of feed are suitable for horizontal mixers? This article will analyze it in detail for you.
1. Introduction to the structure and working principle of horizontal feed mixers
Before understanding the types of feeds it is suitable for, it is necessary to first clarify the basic structure and working mode of the horizontal mixer. The horizontal feed mixer generally adopts a U-shaped horizontal shell, with a stirring shaft and a specially designed stirring blade (such as a spiral ribbon or a plow blade) inside, which is driven by a motor to rotate so that the material can be fully mixed in a short time.
The mixer can also be equipped with auxiliary devices such as a liquid spray system, a discharge valve, an Inspection Port, and a Dust Extraction Port, so that it can adapt to both dry powder mixing and the need for adding an appropriate amount of liquid. Based on these structural advantages, horizontal mixers have the following functional characteristics:
High mixing uniformity and no dead angles
Can adapt to a variety of material forms (powder, granular, fibrous, sticky, etc.)
Can be used to add liquid ingredients such as oil, molasses, enzyme preparations, premixes, etc.
Easy to clean, easy to maintain, suitable for continuous operation
These advantages lay a good foundation for the application of horizontal mixers in various feed types.
2. Main feed types suitable for horizontal mixers
2.1 Powdered feed
Powdered feed is the most common type of mixing, especially widely used in pig, poultry, and ruminant farming. Typical raw materials include corn flour, soybean meal, wheat bran, fish meal, bone meal, vitamin powder, mineral additives, etc.
The mixing of powdered feed by horizontal mixer has the following advantages:
The mixing uniformity can be controlled within the industry standard range of CV≤5%
Trace additives or premixes can be added quickly
Support the installation of oil spray or spray system to achieve uniform fusion of powder and liquid
2.2 Mixing of granular feed raw materials
Although granular feed is usually granulated by pellet machine, it is often necessary to premix a variety of granular or crumb raw materials before pelleting. Such materials, such as corn kernels, soybean meal, grass powder briquettes, etc., can be efficiently mixed in horizontal mixers through mixing mechanisms such as convection, diffusion, and shear.
In addition, for some small animals that need to be fed whole grains or in specific breeding stages, coarse granular mixed feed will be used directly, and horizontal mixers are also applicable at this time.
2.3 Powder-grain mixed feed
Powder-grain mixing is a more complex but common form of feed, such as adding some granular materials, coarse grains or fibers to the powder to improve palatability or nutritional level. With its large capacity and three-dimensional tumbling mixing method, horizontal mixers can easily handle the mixing of materials of different particle sizes and densities.
Key advantages include:
Prevents particle breakage or dust from rising
More even distribution of ingredients after mixing
Enhanced overall physical stability and palatability of feed
2.4 Fibrous feed (such as grass meal, rice husk meal, bean straw meal, etc.)
In ruminant feed, crude fiber accounts for an important proportion. Traditional mixing methods are prone to agglomeration or "floating without mixing" problems, while horizontal mixers can effectively break up fibers and promote fusion by adjusting the angle or speed of the mixing paddle.
Especially suitable for the following combinations:
Premix of grass meal + concentrate supplement
Fattening formula of rice husk + corn meal + protein feed
Hay shreds + mineral additive mixture
2.5 Viscous/liquid feed (such as molasses feed, oil feed, fermented feed)
Feed containing molasses or oil belongs to the "semi-wet" category, which places higher requirements on mixing equipment. The horizontal mixer can be equipped with a liquid spray system to evenly spray liquids such as oil, molasses, etc. through the nozzle to prevent the material from agglomerating.
In the pre-treatment stage of fermented feed, it is often necessary to fully mix the microbial strains with the base material, and horizontal mixers can also do this.
3. Feed adaptability for different animal species
3.1 Pig feed
Most compound feeds are powdered or mixed with powder and granules. Horizontal mixers can fully disperse trace ingredients such as premixes, antibiotics, and enzyme preparations to ensure feeding uniformity.
3.2 Poultry feeds such as chickens, ducks, and geese
Poultry feeds are mostly powdered, requiring high uniformity and good palatability. Horizontal mixers support high-frequency batch mixing and are suitable for small and medium-sized poultry farms.
3.3 Ruminant feeds such as cattle and sheep
Ruminant feeds need to contain a large amount of crude fiber and energy components. Horizontal mixers are particularly efficient for compound mixing of materials such as forage powder, corn, and soybean meal.
3.4 Fish and aquatic feeds
Aquatic feeds are usually high in protein and fat, and require extremely high uniformity before pelleting. Horizontal mixers can avoid stratification and precipitation through delicate mixing.
4. Application scenarios of horizontal mixers in feed process flow
Premixing stage of raw materials in feed mills: as the first mixing process, ensure accurate placement and uniform mixing of raw materials.
Self-mixing system of large-scale farms: cooperate with automatic weighing and feeding equipment to improve feed utilization efficiency.
TMR Total Mixed Ration (TMR) preparation: used in conjunction with crushers and grinders to achieve mixing of different nutritional structures.
Fermented feed production line: mixing bacteria, nutrients and fermentation matrix to lay the foundation for subsequent composting and fermentation.
5. Suggestions for selecting horizontal mixers
Different types of feed correspond to different mixing characteristics, so comprehensive consideration should be given when selecting:
Material state: powder, granules, crude fiber, oil content, etc.
Mixing uniformity requirements: whether it is used for high-standard compound feed
Daily processing volume and batch frequency: determine the capacity and speed of the mixer
Whether it is necessary to add accessories such as liquid addition system and dust removal system
Horizontal feed mixer is a feed processing equipment with a wide range of applications and high mixing efficiency. It is particularly suitable for uniform mixing of various types of feed such as powder, granules, powder and granules, crude fiber, oil/molasses, etc. It plays an irreplaceable role in the feed production pro
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