How Do Milling Efficiency Strategies Support the Aquaculture Industry?

Fish are incredibly efficient food-producing animals making it critically important for productivity, sustainability and profitability to provide feed that is of the highest quality and integrity. Feed accounts for no less than 50% of aquaculture production costs, so producers seek out innovative ways to mitigate feed waste. As a result, producers within the aquaculture industry strive to produce high-quality diets while reducing process loss and optimizing energy use. 

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Milling Efficiency Solution Proves Effective in Commercial Trials 

Aquafeed producers have used Maxi-Mil in their commercial operations to improve PDI, reduce fines and enhance aqua feed stability. Effective milling efficiency solutions allow producers to flexibly formulate least-cost diets without negatively impacting mill throughput. 

As a milling efficiency solution, Maxi-Mil helps aquafeed producers optimize moisture distribution and penetration, ultimately enhancing the binding and gelatinization of aquafeed ingredients. 

Several field trials with aquafeed producers have demonstrated that Maxi-Mil allows aquafeed manufacturers to balance feed quality, throughput and process loss. Every mill is different and experiences various benefits.   

In an effort to improve feed physical quality, facilitate better moisture management and reduce mill energy consumption, a mill producing extruded Salmon feed trialed Maxi-Mil. When comparing aquafeed produced with Maxi-Mil to aquafeed produced normally, the mill saw a 5.92% decrease in energy consumption. In general, Maxi-Mil enhanced feed moisture retention, yielding improved feed durability and more efficient energy use during aquafeed production. 

After observing fines in extruded aquafeeds, Maxi-Mil was tested commercially at an integrated farm and feed operation. Maxi-Mil treatment reduced the percent of fines found in feed by 4.90% in addition to improving moisture retention and reducing total energy consumption. When compared to untreated feed, aquafeed treatment with Maxi-Mil improved the mill's use of resources by operating more efficiently and producing less waste. 

A series of commercial trials with aquafeed producers making diets for Tilapia, Shrimp and Catfish were performed to determine what effect Maxi-Mil has on throughput, process loss and efficiency. Throughout these trials Maxi-Mil treated feed saw repeated increases in moisture retention, hourly tonnage produced and fewer kilowatt-hours used. 

Is Pellet Quality the Key to Aquaculture Sustainability and Productivity?

Efficiently producing aquafeed positively impacts aquaculture operations. Fish are extremely efficient at converting feed to energy. Extruded and pelleted aquafeeds can exhibit physical quality challenges in the form of poor water stability and production of fines. Both result in unconsumed wasted feed that doesn’t contribute to fish growth.  While this directly impacts FCR and operational feed costs, it also negatively impacts water quality and fish health.   

Aquafeed producers use Maxi-Mil to efficiently make more high-quality feed that supports aquaculture productivity and sustainability.  

To learn more about how Maxi-Mil can help your operation reach its productivity, sustainability and profitability goals, connect with your clean feed expert today.

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