Dear peers,
I need to understand whether uniform pellet length vs. uneven length with similar ingredient composition has any impact on dairy cattle/buffalo performance?
If so, please provide its scientific basis with relevant literature link.
Thanks!
No, there is no significant effect of length on cattle feed quality, except for which animal species and stage , it being produced. Length can affects only breaking strength.
But the pellet diameter concerned with nutrient density, and its effect quality. On other hand, pellet diameter inversely proportional to energy consumption in pellet mill.
All are finding based on my work experience during cattle feed production.
It all depends on length of storage before feeding. Obviously, feed quality diminshes with time; thus it is not advisable to keep feed for a long period. If oily ingredients are used, the problem of rancidity is inevitable as a result of long duration of storage. Similarly, environmental conditions exert great influence of feed quality during storage.
Length or size of pellet affect intake which invariably influence animals performance. The effect of feed particle size is quickly noticed in intake as it promotes selection. Generally, uniform size is better. Pellet diameter also affects nutrient concentration as nutrient density is higher in bigger diameters.
The length and diameter of the pellet will affect the palatability and nutritive value of the pellet depending upon the animal species you are targeting for feeding. In smaller animals, the pellets of lower dia and length will be efficiently utilized whereas the pellets of higher length and diameter will be difficult to swallow and chew and hence the utilization will be poor.
Thank you Drs Olafadehan and Dr Thakur sir .
Actually, dairy farmers appreciate pellets of uniform size (length) with least dust/broken pellets as an index of premium product quality. Regarding diameter, a range of 6-11 mm sized pellets are available in Indian market for dairy feeding.
Dear Dr.Mahesh, 4.5 mm pellet size also better, It concern with palatability/acceptability by animals. It have greater breaking strength, economic to transport (more packing capacity) and easy to browse & chew for animals cattle as well as small ruminants also like sheep & goat.
I have not seen any significant effect of length on cattle feed quality.
Does length of compound dairy feed pellet has any relationship with its quality? - ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_length_of_compound_dairy_feed_pellet_has_any_relationship_with_its_quality [accessed Jul 5, 2016].
Above all, the look of the finished product should be uniform from marketing point of view.
Dear M. S., No! The length of the pellets does not alter their nutritional value so long there was homogeneity during mixing process prior pelleting! In fact pelleting significantly minimizes de-mixing of individual ingredients during transport and storage. It also improves the NUTRITIONAL VALUE by destroying/eliminating some anti-nutritional factors present in ingredients. However, uniform length and size of the pellets facilitates easy storage, and intake of the pellets by the animal in question. Take note that the size and length of the pellets depend on the age, size, and species of the animal. Young animals usually need shorter and small size of the pellets to ease intake. The bigger and old animals need bigger and relatively longer pellets than their counterparts, the smaller animals. Hope this information will be useful to you.
Best wishes,
Elly
Hello,
Size of pellets in dairy may influence performance, the intake per each feeding is related to this. Bigger pellets > more intake per feeding> bigger change of pH in rumen..and so on, especially in the hot season, when frecquency of feeding decreases and quantity for each feeding increases.
Kind regards,
Stelian
Pellet size has not much significance of either palatability, acceptability or digestion, however, its softness tells us the freshness. The pelleted feed become harder after prolonged storage. The hard pellets has less palatability.
In my opinion pellets with less diameter has less chance to become very hard, hence, smaller pellets with small diameter should be preferred.
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