Aqua Feed Processing Plant & Machinery Solutions

Fishmeal, soya, squid meal and wheat flour are tipped from sacks and screened for string, husk and metal. Because aquaculture feed is fed into open water, foreign matter is removed before it can reach the mill.

Aqua feed is ground far finer than livestock feed, because a shrimp takes small bites and the pellet must not shed particles into the pond. The ground powder is sifted and coarse fractions are sent back for regrinding.

Vitamins, minerals and binder are weighed into a premix, then combined with the bulk ingredients for the batch. The binder is what allows the finished pellet to stay intact once it is submerged.

The mix is conditioned with steam so the starch gelatinises and binds the pellet. Conditioned mash is pressed into small-diameter sinking pellets sized for the species and growth stage.

Moisture picked up during conditioning is driven off so the pellets store without spoiling. Dried pellets are cooled to ambient temperature and moisture is checked before coating.

Fish oil, attractants and heat-sensitive additives are applied after pelleting rather than before, so they are not damaged by the conditioning heat. Vacuum coating draws the oil into the pellet instead of leaving it on the surface, where it would wash off in water.

Pellets are graded into size bands, since feed is matched to the size of the stock being fed. Graded feed is checked for metal, filled and closed for despatch.