Feed manufacturing technology

Feed manufacturing technology involves a series of processes designed to produce formulated feed pellets for animals including fish. These feeds must be carefully balanced to meet the specific nutritional requirements of different animals. This chapter covers aquatic feed production technology, feed product quality analysis, feed safety and odor control technology. The section on aquatic feed production technology describes the sequential operations to produce high-quality, nutritionally balanced aquafeed pellets within a feed production line. The section also outlines the key factors that affect the physical quality of the feed pellets. The part on aquatic feed product analysis highlights common laboratory tests to control the final quality of pellets, such as analysis of moisture content, pellet buoyancy, water activity, near-infrared spectroscopy, particle size, pellet bulk density, hardness, pellet durability, fat absorption and water stability. The section on feed safety emphasizes the implementation of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) as well hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) programs that are essential for upholding food safety standards in feed production lines. The primary focus is on fundamental steps crucial for the implementation of GMPs in feed manufacturing. Meanwhile, HACCP primarily focuses on shelf life and critical control points in the operations of feed production units. Odor, which is considered a pollutant, is addressed in a separate section that details the characteristics of the odor in feed manufacturing and control methods. Thus, this chapter provides a comprehensive knowledge of critical aspects of feed manufacturing technology.