April 30, 2008
Kiotechagil sees rising demand for pellet binders as feed price hikes
Rising prices are seen to prompt producers to look on new raw materials for their animal feed formulations, which can adversely affect pellet quality, and reduce throughput at the feed mill, Kiotechagil said.
With electricity at US$0.16 per kilowatt-hour and rising, feed compounders are also paying increasing attention to energy usage.
Mark Meynell, Director of Lloyds Animal Feeds, said that double pelleting for example costs an extra US$1.6 per tonne compared to single pelleting.
Kiotechagil's chief technical officer Murray Hyden pointed out that the two factors are increasing the demand for low inclusion pellet binders.
Part of the benefit comes through the chemical binding attributes which help lower the amount of energy consumed in pellet production, Hyden said.
Feed producers are also recognising the ability of binders, which improve pellet quality and allow greater inclusion of oils in high-energy diets, he added.
UK-based Kiotechagil manufactures a range of high performance natural feed additives for the animal feed, grain and aquaculture industries.