Weather conditions always affect the preparation of animal feed. The technique is becoming obsolete. For these and other reasons, the technology of harvesting grain is disrupted, which affects the quality of the resulting feed, which has a low level of nutrients and a high level of harmful microorganisms and bacteria.
Exploring methods of disinfecting grain, scientists have developed an extrusion method. This method has found wide practical application. Thus, as a result of barothermic exposure, the toxins in the cereals are inactivated and the grain is sterilized.
Technology
Thanks to modern technology, it is possible to widely use extruded feed, which can significantly reduce the level of financial costs and increase profits. Feed is the main source of carbohydrates for animals. Most used cereals from wheat, barley, oats, corn, etc. Very rarely, the use of legumes. These include lentils, peas, soybeans, etc.
Grain animals are obtained in the form of cereals, for the preparation of which fine or coarse flour is taken. If the grain has a high humidity, then mold and aerobic bacteria quickly grow in it. Such raw materials become very dangerous for animals. In contrast, extruded feed is practically safe. Indeed, even in freshly harvested grain, where humidity is still not high, there is a significant amount of microorganisms. These toxins tend to multiply rapidly. It is also interesting that, even if the grain was dried, the humidity in it still reaches the level of 14%.
Technologically, this process goes like this: the grain is crushed and moistened in a screw mixer. Moisture is supplied per one ton - 275-400 liters. After wetting, the grain enters the extruder, where it is compacted, compressed and subjected to high temperature treatment for up to 10 seconds at t = 150-190 ° C. After this treatment, 1 gram of wheat, for example, contains 10,000 times fewer microorganisms than before extrusion, and the contained molds die before the grain is processed.
Extrusion features
After 1.5 months of storage, the indicator of the presence of microorganisms that contain extruded feed remains at the same level, while in untreated it has a tendency to grow.
Moisture-thermal processing of grain by extrusion significantly increases its nutritional properties and digestibility for the animal organism. High temperature treatment causes dextrinization of starch - this is the process of formation of readily soluble carbohydrates. The simultaneous presence of moisture and elevated temperature contributes to the gelatinization of grain raw materials.
Maximum dextrins are formed during the processing of crushed wheat at a temperature of 180 ° C using a pressure of 2.5-3 MPa and moisture at the rate of 300 liters per ton. The amount of starch (gelatinized) reaches 27% with this method.
An important feature that extruded feeds have is hydrophilicity. The swelling intensity is already visible in the first 10 minutes. Such indicators are important for the preparation of feed mixtures. If you distribute the liquid mixture on a grid, it will fall to the ground, and such losses affect the economic side of farming.
Why choose extruded feed? Pros and cons
Today, the method of grain processing by extrusion is one of the best technological solutions.
During heat treatment, the feed has improved taste due to the formation of various aromatic substances. He markedly increases the activity of enzymes necessary for digestion. The only raw material during extrusion should be free of earth, straw, various stones and other mechanical debris. It is interesting that even the processing of stale wet grain with a pronounced ammonia odor turns the grain mixture into an excellent feed. And after extruding the "dead waste" (buckwheat shell), feed is obtained for pigs and sheep.
Digestibility of feed
If an animal eats regular rather than extruded food, the pros and cons become apparent. It assimilates only half of it. This is due to the fact that most of the energy is spent on digesting the shell. Therefore, to maintain the livelihoods of animals and to obtain high productivity, it is necessary to put very large costs into the budget. This is a minus, and the only advantage is its naturalness, but if he lies down a bit or spoils, this can provoke a problem.
The extrusion process performs the first half of the work of the stomach, and its energy necessary for digestion is stored. Everything that gives the extruded feed goes completely to the needs of the animal’s body, and productivity results in cheaper indicators. Such extruded animal feed is indispensable for growing young animals. Practicing veterinarians and livestock specialists know that 90% of young animals die due to various kinds of diseases of the stomach, intestines, infections that are introduced through the digestive system. Young animals are least protected in this area.
Sterility
Food after extrusion is practically sterile even after a long shelf life in ordinary warehouses. When feeding an extrudant, the death of young animals from intestinal diseases is reduced by almost half. Even then, when switching to coarse fodder, an animal that consumed extruded cattle (cattle) food has a healthy stomach, not exhausted by intestinal disorders, and is significantly ahead of its peers in growth.
In wet food, the decomposition of vitamins naturally occurs intensively, and in an extrudant with a moisture content of 7–9%, vitamins are stored.
Additional advantages
There is another point that points to the advantages of extruded feed. Practice shows that animals, especially piglets, throw up to 8% of the feed on bedding when feeding. If you use extruded feed for pigs, this does not happen.
It is also important to know that the extrudant has absorption properties, so it is a prophylactic for diseases of the stomach, intestines.
Dairy farming
There are a number of cases where extruded products are the only sensible way to achieve payback and profitability. This is especially true for dairy farming. To obtain highly efficient production in this industry, very intensive feeding of cows is necessary . They should receive protected protein and protected fat, which do not break down in the rumen, passing in transit, but are digested in the small intestine. Thanks to this method, the main part of the released amino acids is absorbed into the blood and will be used in the synthesis of milk proteins, and free fatty acids will provide a sufficient level of metabolic energy. Such a unique product is obtained by extruding soybeans in combination with sunflower meal.
Feeding dogs and cats
Regarding the question of whether to use extruded dog food, there is disagreement among pet owners and veterinarians. Opponents argue that when feeding a dog with finished food, the animal's need for high-quality nutrients, vitamins and fatty acids increases. If they are not enough, then the pet will face serious health problems. If in the direction of extruded grain feed for animals there are a lot of positive arguments, then in the direction of finished animal feed more negative.
Waste from meat production, which is part of the extruded feed, may contain a high amount of hormones, which affects the development of tumors. These are synthetic hormones added to food to stimulate growth, and meat flour, which is mostly made from waste glands, germinal tissues of pregnant cows. Such hormones remain active for a long time. High hormones are considered especially dangerous for cats.
Disease
Sick animals that are considered to be marriage go to waste and, possibly, to produce food for dogs and cats. Today it is no secret that young animals suffer from problems that were previously peculiar only to older individuals. Young veterinarians without past experience cannot, in principle, leave 100% true reviews about extruded feed, as they cannot compare animal health over time. A few decades ago, many diseases of young pets could not even be discussed.
Chemistry
Various chemical additives have a strong influence on the deterioration of the health of pets. If the label says that the composition contains corn syrup, be aware that this is an ingredient that provides moisture and elasticity. In addition, it is a very sweet element that is extracted from corn starch and causes changes in the pancreas and adrenal glands, which can lead to diabetes mellitus. Corn syrup is not absorbed by animals. It also dilutes the remaining nutrients with calories that do not contain minerals, vitamins, proteins and fats.
Syrup from corn starch stimulates excess production of insulin, increases the acidity of the stomach, inhibits the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to dysbiosis, interferes with the normal absorption of calcium, proteins and minerals present in food.
We must not forget about the dyes added to the feed to improve color and attract customers. Although the more natural the food, the closer it is to the gray-brown color. Our pets are indifferent to the color of the feed, they simply do not distinguish it, and the owners almost always look at the color. Therefore, manufacturers add dyes. Synthetic flavors and flavors are added to harmful dyes. They are not only animals, they and people should not be eaten!
This is only a small part of what can be said on this issue. In general, it is worthwhile to understand that the process of infection with food chemistry begins with pesticides, herbicides, etc., which are used for industrial crop cultivation. Today, transgenes have been added there. The process continues by using antibiotics, tranquilizers, which are used by poultry farms, farms, etc. Then processing for transportation and storage follows. And so on until the feed production ...
When can I feed ready-made foods for my pet?
It is possible to use such feeds when there is an exceptional need, such as a trip. But not on an ongoing basis! If for some reason the owner prefers to feed his pet with extruded food, then he needs to approach the choice very carefully!
At first glance, the feed is similar, but it is not! You need to carefully study the list of ingredients. If the dog does not drink much, she should not be given dry food, then only canned food. Any nutritional discrepancies are reflected in the stool. It is not necessary to supplement the balanced food with vitamins and minerals separately, since the complete set necessary for the animal’s body is provided in the feed itself.
Vitamin Overdose
In no case can adult animals be given food for small pets, since it contains an increased amount of minerals, etc. For this reason, feeding extruded feeds for puppies of adult pets can lead to obesity. Do not give food intended for pets of one weight category, for representatives of another. An overdose of any vitamin can lead to serious health problems!
Ready-made feed can be used as a mineral top dressing for the normal nutrition of an animal with meat and cereals. It can be used as a fortified top dressing with predominant nutrition of grain products and waste from the meat industry. If ready-made feeds are always used, then there is no need for additives.
It is important to always pay attention to the content of vitamins A, D3. Their excess leads to very negative consequences.