To manufacture a compound feed the ingredients need to be processed. Processing in the feed industry refers to the individual or collective mechanical treatments applied to single or multiple feed components during the manufacture of compound.

These processes are carried out to modify the physical and nutritional properties of the ingredients and of the finished feed to ensure a consistent quality product. Key processes may include: batching, mixing, particle size reduction, conditioning, agglomeration, post pellet conditioning, fat coating, drying/cooling, crumbling and bagging.

Key in this processing sequence is the agglomeration stage, commonly referred to as pelleting. This particular process is an ongoing subject for discussion.