Optimizing Poultry and Swine Performance through High-Quality Pellets

Performance and efficiency are objectives both animal and feed producers continuously strive to improve. Animal producers seek strategies and formulations that give them the power to achieve evolving genetic potential and feed producers continue to find innovative ways to make more high-quality feed and meet increasing demand.

As poultry and swine producers navigate the complexities of modern farming, the role of feed quality emerges as a cornerstone to success. High-quality pellets, produced sustainably and with a focus on energy efficiency, are key to maximizing performance and profitability in poultry and swine production.

Learn Mare about Supporting Pellet Quality Today.

The Importance of Feed Quality

Feed represents the primary source of nutrients for poultry and swine, directly impacting their growth, health and overall productivity. Ensuring that animals receive a balanced and nutritious diet is essential for achieving optimal performance targets. Understanding feed quality involves examining two main aspects: microbial quality and feed form. Contaminated feed or poor microbial quality can result in decreased performance, heightened disease susceptibility and elevated mortality rates among livestock. Similarly, challenges in moisture management can adversely affect both microbial quality and feed form. Using pelleted rations within poultry and swine production gives producers the power to deliver feed nutrients in uniform packages, with each pellet containing the complete nutrient profile. Making feed form critically important to feed quality in pelleted rations.

The Power of Pellets

Pelleted feed offers numerous advantages over traditional forms of feed, such as mash or crumbles. Pellets provide a convenient and uniform delivery system for essential nutrients, ensuring consistent intake and minimizing wastage. Moreover, the compact nature of pellets enhances feed efficiency and reduces the risk of selective feeding, resulting in improved feed conversion ratios and cost savings for producers.

The benefits of high-quality pellets extend beyond the production process to impact animal performance directly. Pellets offer superior digestibility and nutrient absorption compared to other feed forms, resulting in improved growth rates, feed efficiency and overall health for poultry and swine. Furthermore, uniformity in the size and shape of pellets facilitates handling and distribution, streamlining feeding operations and reducing labor costs.

Optimizing performance is essential for the long-term success of poultry and swine operations. The significant impact of feed form on animal performance is well documented. Glover et al. (2015) observed a 3-point decrease in feed conversion when increasing pellet content in the feed pan from 50% to 70%. Studies in turkeys, as noted by Kenny (2022), have revealed positive effects on breast meat yield, body weight and feed conversion rates with improved feed form. Lastly, research in swine, such as that conducted by Nemechek et al. (2013), suggests that feed efficiency in pigs improves as the proportion of fines decreases.

The implications of feed quality extend to both feed and food producers in animal agriculture. Prioritizing strategies that manage feed safety and form not only supports the productivity and performance goals of feed producers but also benefits end users. By ensuring high feed quality, feed producers can maximize the value derived from costly raw materials, while food producers can optimize their investments in feed, ultimately enhancing overall efficiency and profitability across the supply chain.

Commercial trials conducted by the International Research Institute of Feed Technology, utilizing Anitox Maxi-Mil, have demonstrated notable improvements with a 1% inclusion of Maxi-Mil. These enhancements include increased conditioning rates, improved pellet stability/PDI, and enhanced moisture retention during cooling, while simultaneously reducing friction-related temperature rises in the pellet press and energy demand.

High-quality pellets represent a key driver of performance and efficiency in poultry and swine production. Through sustainable pellet production practices and a focus on energy efficiency, producers can enhance feed quality, improve animal performance and support feed producer efficiency and profitability. As the industry continues to evolve, investing in high-quality pellets emerges as a strategic imperative for success in feed and animal production.

Producers ready to support feed pellet quality with effective moisture management should contact their clean feed expert today.

Learn Mare about Supporting Pellet Quality Today.