AMANDUS KAHL at EuroTier 2024: Efficiency and Animal Health in Feed Production

The expander from the Reinbek-based plant manufacturer is a true all-rounder in the production of animal feed: It is suitable for mixing, kneading and homogenising, as well as for agglomeration and short-term conditioning. AMANDUS KAHL uses the interaction of moisture, temperature and pressure to optimise the nutritional, hygienic and physical properties of compound feed for various animal species in an energy-efficient manner. The disruption of plant cells and the elimination of micro-organisms in the expander significantly improve the feed quality and increase the efficiency of the subsequent pelleting process by 25 to 50 per cent.

Thanks to a hydraulically adjustable cone, pressure and product heating can be continuously adjusted during operation. The expander reaches operating pressures of 5 to 120 bar and temperatures of 90 to 130°C – ideal for a wide range of feed applications. As the expander ensures the highest hygiene standards, it can replace the hygienisation process. The combination of pressure and heat effectively eliminates pathogenic germs such as salmonellae. In addition, the expander significantly improves nutrient digestibility. In broiler fattening, for example, 50 to 70 kilocalories of metabolisable energy can be saved per kilogram of feed.

For animal feed that requires particularly intensive treatment, the expander can be equipped with a crown outlet, which ensures greater friction and thus a higher treatment temperature. Among other things, the crown outlet plays an important role in the production of cattle feed, as it produces feed components with a particularly high content of rumen-stable protein. These "undegradable proteins" (UDP) pass undigested through the gastric system of ruminants and are directly available for digestion in the small intestine. The so-called "bypass protein" optimises the performance of both dairy cows and fattening cattle. At the same time, the digestive system of the rumen is relieved. Since animal feed may no longer be rumen-protected by formaldehyde following Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1104, the expander is becoming even more important.

A powerful team for the feed industry

At EuroTier 2024, AMANDUS KAHL will be showcasing not only the expander OE 23.2 and the expander crown outlet, but also two other key machines for feed production: the pellet mill 60-1500 and the crushing roller mill WSB 2040.2 with individual drive.

The crushing roller mill with individual drive is an established machine in the animal feed industry for grinding cereals and legumes. Two counter-rotating, corrugated rollers break up the respective grain into small particles. The crushing roller mill with individual drive, developed by AMANDUS KAHL especially for the feed industry, enables a more precise adjustment of the grinding result and the feed recipes compared to the central drive common in this industry. What makes it special is that not only the size of the grinding gap but also the speed of the two counter-rotating, corrugated rollers made of surface-hardened special steel can be individually adjusted. This results in a homogeneous and particularly easy-to-digest feed structure. A crushing roller mill and expander form a powerful team in the production of animal feed. Without optimum coarse crushing by the crushing roller mill, an optimum feed structure cannot be achieved. However, without an expander, the coarse structure cannot be effectively maintained, which can endanger the health of the animals.

KAHL pellet mills offer numerous configuration options so that they can be optimally adapted to each product. They meet a wide range of requirements, such as maintaining the fibre structure of straw or alfalfa pellets, or processing chopped products without pre-grinding. High throughput with low energy consumption is also possible with fibre-rich raw materials such as straw, hay, grass or alfalfa. Furthermore, KAHL will inform about the application and advantages of fluidised bed technology in the production of animal feed. For example, encapsulation using fluidised bed technology can increase the bioavailability of complex additives such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals and essential oils and significantly improve the quality of animal feed.

High-quality feed at favourable production conditions – the plants of AMANDUS KAHL offer an ideal solution for this balancing act. At Stand 12A26 in Hall 12 at the EuroTier 2024, the mechanical engineering company will be showing how feed manufacturers and farmers can provide their animals with exactly the nutrients they need without losing sight of profitability.

ll pelleting and fluidised bed plants is available at stand B47 in Hall 6.1.