EFFECT OF PARTICLE SIZE AND DIE HOLES DIAMETER IN THE MACHINE ON BROILER FEED PELLETS QUALITY

Due to the need for controlling and regulating of feed pellet. Pellet that is imported or locally manufactured is accompanied by cracking and crumbling percentage that occur during transporting and distributing to animals, using conveyors and mechanical feeders. This study aimed to determine the effect of particle size and die holes diameter in the machine on broiler feed pellets quality in pellet durability, pellet direct measurement, pellet expansion, and pellet length. Three particle size 2, 4, and 6 mm, and three diameters of die holes in the machine 3, 4, and 5 mm, have been used. The results showed that changing the particle size from 2 to 4 then to 6 mm led to a significant decrease in pellet durability and pellet lengths, pellet expansion was increased, whereas it did not significantly effect on pellet direct measurement. Increasing the die holes diameter from 3 to 4 to 5 mm led to a significant decrease in pellet durability, pellet direct measurement and pellet lengths, increased pellet expansion. The particle size of the diet 2 mm and die holes diameter of 3 mm recorded the highest pellet durability at 93.40%, pellet direct measurement at 95.12%, pellet lengths at 86.96%, and less pellet expansion at 0.88%. The minimum particle size and die holes diameter gave the highest pellet durability, pellet direct measurement, pellet lengths, and lowest pellet expansion with all the considered indicators.