How does a feed dryer ensure that the nutrients in the feed are not lost?
Publish Time: 2025-07-10
In modern animal husbandry and poultry farming, the quality of feed directly affects the health and production efficiency of animals. An important part of the feed processing process is drying, which removes excess water to extend the shelf life of the feed and prevent mildew. However, if this process is not properly controlled, it may cause the nutrients in the feed to be lost or deteriorate. Therefore, how to maximize the nutritional value of the feed while ensuring the drying effect has become a key goal in the development of feed drying technology.
1. Accurate control of temperature and humidity
Many nutrients in feed are very sensitive to high temperatures, such as antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, and some enzyme substances, which are easily decomposed and ineffective at too high temperatures. In order to protect these nutrients, advanced feed dryers are usually equipped with precise temperature control systems, which can set appropriate drying temperatures according to different types of feed. For example, for protein-rich feed, the appropriate drying temperature is generally controlled between 60-80 degrees Celsius; while for premixes containing more vitamins, lower temperatures (such as 40-50 degrees Celsius) may be required. In addition, proper humidity management is equally important. Too fast a dehydration speed will cause the surface of the feed to harden quickly, hindering the internal moisture from diffusing outward, causing local overheating and damaging the nutrients.
2. Optimize airflow design
In addition to temperature control, reasonable airflow design is also one of the important means to maintain feed nutrition. High-efficiency feed dryers will use a circulating hot air system to evenly distribute hot air throughout the drying room, and can dynamically adjust the wind speed and direction according to the state of the material. The advantage of this is that each feed particle can be fully exposed to the hot air, which not only speeds up the drying speed but also avoids the loss of nutrients caused by excessive local temperature. At the same time, some high-end models will also introduce the countercurrent drying principle, that is, fresh air enters from the material outlet and contacts with the material that is about to complete the drying process, taking away the last remaining moisture. This method not only improves energy efficiency, but also helps to maintain the integrity of the material surface and reduce dust generation.
3. Shorten the drying time
Long-term exposure to high temperature will accelerate the degradation of nutrients, so shortening the drying cycle as much as possible is an effective strategy to maintain the nutritional value of feed. At present, some new feed dryers on the market use microwave-assisted heating technology, which can directly penetrate the inside of the material for heating without relying on external heat transfer media, greatly improving the drying rate. Compared with traditional methods, microwave drying can achieve the same drying effect in a shorter time, thereby effectively reducing the degree of destruction of nutrients. In addition, some equipment also combines vacuum drying technology to reduce the boiling point of water by reducing pressure, so that rapid dehydration can be achieved at a lower temperature, further protecting the active ingredients in the feed.
4. Choose the right drying mode
Different feed raw materials have different physical and chemical properties, so in actual operation, the most suitable drying mode should be selected according to the specific situation. For example, for grass powder feed with high water content and loose structure, a continuous belt dryer can be selected, which can adapt to different thicknesses of material layers by adjusting the speed of the conveyor belt to ensure that each area can be evenly dried. For granular or block feed, it is more suitable to use a rotary drum dryer. This type of equipment can allow the material to be continuously turned during the rolling process, promote the balanced evaporation of internal and external moisture, and avoid the "cooked" phenomenon.
5. Strengthen follow-up processing and storage management
Even after a carefully designed drying process, improper follow-up processing may still lead to feed nutrient loss. Therefore, the feed should be cooled in time after it is taken out of the oven to prevent the quality from deteriorating due to the continued effect of residual heat. At the same time, proper packaging and sealing measures are also crucial, which can effectively isolate oxygen and moisture in the outside air, delay the occurrence of oxidation reactions, and maintain the freshness of the feed. In addition, a reasonable storage environment (such as low temperature and low humidity) can also help to further extend the shelf life of the feed.
By scientifically and rationally applying the above technical measures, the feed dryer can efficiently complete the drying task while retaining various nutrients in the feed to the maximum extent, providing a high-quality basic guarantee for the breeding industry.
