Benefits of Higher Fat Diets: Part 1, Definitions
March 21, 2019
When animal diets are formulated, at times it’s assumed that a sort of “cookie cutter” approach is taken. This means that all of the ingredients and corresponding nutrient…
Blog
Learn About the Latest Trends & Technologies
Preheating prior to extrusion
March 14, 2019
Recently, I was in Argentina at an extrusion conference and I was asked for my comments on preheating soybean prior to extrusion. Apparently, there are people buying preheaters…
Changing the future in 1,000 days
March 7, 2019
The first 1,000 days between conception and a child’s 2nd birthday are critical for shaping each child’s development. This is the period when the foundations of good health,…
Is a cooker or toaster needed before extrusion?
February 28, 2019
Recently, I had many clients and prospects ask about having a cooker just before extrusion. While this is entirely up to the client, it is our duty to…
New Product to Reduce Ammonia Emissions? We’ve Covered That Here Before…
February 21, 2019
I noticed recently that an FDA-approved animal drug was being launched to reduce ammonia emissions in beef cattle. The drug, which may be a feed additive, appears to…
Calculating boiler horsepower requirements
February 14, 2019
In some feedmills, steam is required for various cooking processes. Our high shear dry extrusion generally does not require steam, although some processes do such as fish and…
Principles of steam exhausting
February 7, 2019
A topic of importance for plant cleanliness is exhausting the steam released during the extrusion process. As material is processed within the extruder, the sudden drop to atmospheric…
Fear or Passion? What’s your motivation?
January 31, 2019
In this industry, we get to meet and interact with many different people. A common thread among them is a fierce drive and determination to do great things. …
A great team will make a plan come together
January 24, 2019
During my recent trip overseas, I got to witness first-hand how many people are truly involved in making a processing plant come together. Vendors and suppliers sometimes forget…
Don’t fight change, embrace it
January 17, 2019
A famous song once said, “the times they are a-changing”. Today, this couldn’t be more true. Technology seems to advance daily, and those who stay abreast and use…
Wet collectors for steam exhaust
January 10, 2019
In a previous blog, we mentioned the various principles of steam exhausting. One of those was how to handle the discharged vapor. Most places can allow this vapor…
High-Shear Dry Extrusion Effectively Reduces Mycotoxin Levels in Grains
January 3, 2019
Due to a delay in harvest caused by wet weather, the fungus which produces mycotoxins is expected to cause higher than normal levels as discussed in a recent…
Types of screw conveyor flighting
December 27, 2018
In our industry, the screw conveyor is a pretty common method of conveying. They’re simple, inexpensive and relatively universal. We tend to use a “U-trough” style of conveyor…
BENEFITS OF FEEDING HIGH-QUALITY FATS IN A DAIRY RATION: THE ARGUMENT FOR BY-PASS FAT
December 20, 2018
Proper feeding of fat and fat products to dairy cows are a common strategy to boost production, however, understanding the roles of various fat components is essential. Overfeeding…
“Cheap Enough To Feed” Means You Get What You Pay For
December 13, 2018
Putting together a diet formulation for animal production – balancing performance goals with economic considerations – is something we discuss here on a regular basis. We periodically provide…
WHAT OILSEEDS CAN YOU MECHANICALLY PROCESS?
December 6, 2018
Consumers are demanding more transparency and access to sustainable food products. A recent article on consumer trends mentioned US soy and plant-based soy alternatives retail sales grew 8.1%…
ALTERNATIVES TO SOYMEALS FOR DAIRY: EXPRESS® COTTONSEED
November 29, 2018
A recent article by NPR highlights the emergence of “edible” cottonseed – suitable for food production, not just feed. Cottonseed is the resulting seed after the ginning process…
HIGH-SHEAR DRY EXTRUDED PRODUCTS FOR HIGHLY DIGESTIBLE RUMEN MICROBIAL PROTEIN IN DAIRY PART II: HIGH SHEAR DRY Hi-Gel™
November 22, 2018
In a previous blog, I discussed how feeding ExPress® soymeal to dairy provides a highly digestible source of protein and energy while improving milk production and lowering diet…