Continuing along the vein of automation, I intentionally challenged the value
proposition that automation brings. However, my challenge was not aimed at the
technology of automation, but was more specifically aimed at the steady decline
in product quality that has been a direct result of the industry assumption that
automation delivers quality.
While some still hold the mistaken opinion
that we gelatinize starch during pelleting, the truth of the matter is that the
performance benefit of pelleting is directly tied to the physical integrity of
the finished product.
McKinney and Teeter (2002) demonstrated that
changes in pellet quality (measured as durability) can directly impact the
caloric value of the diet (MEn). For example, when pellet durability goes from
80% to 70%, the energy value of the diet is reduced by 23 kCal MEn/kg
diet.
In some parts of the world, pellet quality is still held in high
regard, even in systems that are fully automated. The difference here is that
pellet quality standards are strictly maintained, and automation is used to
improve the consistency of the process.
In many of the plants that I
tour, automation is viewed as a means to reduce costs associated with pelleting,
with little attention paid to the physical quality and consistency of the
finished product.
In the past 15 years, the integrated livestock industry
in the US has chosen to regard production cost/ton of feed as the vital
parametric in feed manufacturing. I understand it is important to minimize
production cost, but at what price?
If you believe the data of McKinney
and Teeter, it is not difficult to calculate the cost/benefit ratio of
increasing pellet quality vs. increased production costs. It does cost more to
make good quality pellets, but I would submit that the industry has too long
ignored the value that quality pellets bring to efficiency of gain.
In
closing, I do believe that automation added value to the feed industry. However,
we can’t assume that automating a process guarantees a consistent, high quality
product. In today’s current economic environment, pellet quality has never been
more important.
In my opinion, I think we have overlooked the value that
good quality pellets bring to efficiency of gain, and have instead opted for a
"cheaper" production process. If I am mistaken, why is the nutritional value of
cracked corn again being considered for broiler
chickens?
Author: Jared Froetschner
