Applied Animal Nutrition-I

Receiving of raw material

RECEIVING OF RAW MATERIALS

• The first operation in the feed processing plant involves the receiving of raw materials into the plant premises.
• Feed ingredients arrive in gunny bags, or other small containers and in bulk.
• Ingredients in gunny bags are checked physically for moisture, contamination, smell and for soundness of the material.
• Ingredients must then be stored in a dry location with proper protection from rodent and insect infestation.
• Sacked stocks are then rotated regularly to minimize moldiness, product degradation, and insect infestation.
• Bulk ingredients are handled according to their physical form. Liquid ingredients, such as oils and molasses, are generally stored in bulk tanks.
• Proper storage temperature is maintained and the filter screens are checked periodically.
• Solid bulk ingredients such as grains, oil meals, etc., are cleaned with a scalper to remove foreign material prior to storage in bins.
• Bin temperatures are monitored to prevent heating due to grain respiration.
• In the feed manufacturing process, evaluation of the feed ingredients is important for achieving consistent quality.
• If the quality of the ingredient can be assessed before it is unloaded from the truck, it would save both trouble and money. There are different types of evaluations.