Generally, a feed premix contains essential nutrients like amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, antibiotics, and minerals. However, while making feed premix, producers consider the specific function and needs of the animal. For instance, poultry feed premix should contain essential amino acids like lysine, methionine, tryptophan, threonine, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, histidine, phenylalanine and valine arginine because they are vital for egg production. Cat feeds, on the other should have some of these amino acids but with the inclusion of taurine, which is essential in the development of cats’ vision.

Other important nutrients include vitamin E and selenium, which improves the immune system of chickens, vitamin D and A for bone and visual development, respectively.

Feed premix making equipment for mixing ingredients

In feed premix processing, ingredient composition and size vary significantly. Therefore, producers ensure that a uniform mix is obtained through proper mixing. Manufacturers use horizontal or rotary drum mixers for this step because they can combine raw materials with a wide range of densities. They provide a wide surface area for mixing and generate less friction. These specialized mixers can mix to a low CV (coefficient of variation). The mixing stage occurs in two steps. The first one, micro mixing, is for mixing ingredients that weigh less than a percent of the mixer’s capacity. The second step is the macro mixing, which involves incorporating and blending a carrier such as rice hulls or corn cobs into the premix.

Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 provides crucial guidelines for the manufacturing and use of feed premixes in the European Union. Its goal is to ensure that feed premixes are combined in potent and safe quantities for animals, human handlers, human consumers, and the environment. In the United States, producers should submit a Food Additive Petition for Animal Food (FAP), which contains details of the feed (the ingredients, quantity, animal nutritional benefits and intended duration of use), to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which approves the ingredients’ safety for the animals.