Trinidad and Tobago 400-500KG/H Small Animal Feed Plant For Livestock Farm

In November 2019, this idea took root more firmly when he reached out to Richi Machinery, already known in the islands for supplying wood pellet machines and other feed equipment to a handful of pioneering clients. Within weeks of consultation, a plan for a compact yet robust animal feed line took shape.

On November 4th, 2019, the contract was signed: a 400-500 kilo per hour turnkey small animal feed plant in Trinidad and Tobago perfectly suited for a small farm's daily needs, yet designed with enough flexibility to scale production when required. By the time the installation was completed, just ten days later, the plant stood ready to tackle the unique demands of Tobago's small but determined livestock sector.

Local Crops, Local Control: A New Way to Use Tobago's Raw Materials

One of the unique aspects of Tobago's agricultural backbone is that it is still heavily reliant on multi-crop smallholdings. While large commercial grain fields are scarce, farmers like our client have easy access to local maize, small-batch soybean harvests, and agricultural by-products like bran and vegetable scraps. These feed components, once regarded as low-value waste or sold cheaply to traders, suddenly became the building blocks for a self-sufficient feed formula.

In this small animal feed plant in Trinidad and Tobago project, the farmer decided to build his pellet recipes around simple, locally sourced raw materials: sun-dried corn, soybean meal from regional cooperatives, wheat bran supplied by nearby mills, and even oilseed cakes pressed from leftover coconut and groundnut processing. Small amounts of microelements, vitamins, and bone meal are purchased from mainland suppliers to round out the nutritional profiles for pigs, goats, and poultry.

This resourceful mix not only cuts reliance on imported compound feed but supports local grain growers and millers, creating a subtle yet real loop of economic activity inside the island. What's more, with the new animal feed production line on his own farm, this client now decides exactly what goes into every bag of feed — no fillers, no stale stock, and no surprise markups.

How the Small-Scale Production Line Operates, From Raw Kernel to Final Pellet

For many smallholders, the idea of producing livestock feed can feel intimidating, but this small animal feed plant in Trinidad and Tobago project proves that modern pellet manufacturing can be both accessible and practical. At the core of the 400-500KG/H line is a straightforward yet effective sequence that turns basic raw grains into clean, durable feed pellets in just a few logical steps.

1. It begins at the raw intake stage where harvested maize, oilseed cakes, bran, and other dry ingredients are screened for debris and then directed into a self-suction hammer mill. This compact grinding unit, rated at 27KW for the entire line’s total power draw, crushes large corn kernels, bean cakes and oilseed meal down to a consistent powder — a crucial factor for pellet quality and animal digestion.
2. Next, the ground meal is moved into a vertical mixing chamber, where the farmer's custom recipes come to life. Here, carefully weighed doses of vitamins, micro-trace elements, bone meal, or even a touch of fish meal can be added depending on the season and livestock nutritional needs. The RI-500 vertical mixer at the heart of this stage churns everything uniformly, ensuring that each scoop of the final mix contains exactly the right balance of protein, fiber and minerals. Oils can be blended in too, helping bind the mash more effectively during pelleting.
3. From the mixer, the blended mash travels by screw conveyor to the small livestock feed pellet machine — an FDF-260 model animal feed pellet machine that was chosen specifically for its reliability and ease of maintenance. Inside, the mash is compressed through precision-engineered dies under heat and pressure, emerging as uniform 2-6mm pellets. The flexibility to switch pellet diameter means the farmer can produce softer, smaller pellets for young goats or piglets and slightly larger ones for mature livestock.
4. Once pelleted, the feed enters a compact counter-flow cooler. Here, the fresh pellets shed the excess heat built up during extrusion, cooling to within 5 degrees of ambient room temperature. This prevents mold growth during storage in Tobago's humid tropical air. Finally, the cooled pellets pass through a simple vibrating screen, sifting out fines and delivering only consistent, clean feed that's ready to be bagged or fed directly on-site.

Feeding the Family Farm — And the Neighborhood

While the primary aim of the 400-500KG/H small animal feed plant in Trinidad and Tobago was always to secure enough feed for the farmer’s own herd of goats, pigs, and backyard chickens, the operation's steady daily output has created a modest surplus.

With the island's geography limiting large-scale feed manufacturing, this surplus has quickly turned into a local side business. Nearby farmers have begun buying extra bags from him, knowing they can rely on fresh, custom-milled feed without waiting weeks for shipments from the mainland.

On average, the small livestock feed plant produces about 400 kilos daily for personal use and sells an additional 50 to 100 kilos depending on local demand. The farmer has found that the extra sales not only help recover his investment cost — which cost 5,600 USD for the complete feed line — but also build relationships with neighboring farms, strengthening Tobago's fragile yet resilient agricultural community.

Why the Machinery Chosen Made All the Difference

Key to this small animal feed plant in Trinidad and Tobago project's success is the balance between small footprint, manageable investment, and practical capacity. The equipment list includes a compact hammer mill, the RI-500 vertical mixer, the FDF-260 pellet press, and a counter-flow cooler — each piece selected for minimal power consumption and easy maintenance. Combined, the line draws just 27KW, significantly less than similar setups from competing manufacturers, who often rely on heavier-duty systems ill-suited for smallholder contexts.

One standout feature is the self-suction grinder which pulls grain directly into the mill without the need for complex augers or additional conveyors — a perfect fit for a farm where space and labor must be used wisely.

Likewise, the vertical mixer's design simplifies both loading and cleaning, saving time daily. The entire installation was up and running within ten days, with no major civil works or costly welding needed, keeping the total installation cost to an absolute minimum.

Why Small Feed Lines Matter for Tobago's Farming Future

For a country that imports a significant share of its animal feed despite having fertile soil and strong agricultural roots, projects like this small livestock feed plant show a new way forward. As Trinidad and Tobago continues to explore how to balance its industrial petroleum sector with food security ambitions, local feed self-sufficiency will play an increasingly important role.

Tobago's small farms have struggled for decades to compete with imported meat and larger mainland operations. By making feed locally — with local grains, local by-products, and local labor — this farmer and his feed plant show that resilience doesn't always require million-dollar facilities. Sometimes, all it needs is the right machine, a clear plan, and a willingness to do things the island's own way.

From November 4th, 2019 when he signed the deal, to the ten days it took to install, to every bag of feed that now leaves his small barn, this project reminds us that modern agriculture isn't only about scale. It's about control, community, and the freedom to decide how to nourish animals in ways that match the rhythms of island life.

A Model Other Farmers Are Ready to Follow

Already, neighboring smallholders have begun asking how they might adopt similar setups. Some are exploring cooperative models where two or three farms pool funds to share a feed mill like this one, splitting daily output according to their herd sizes. In a place where transport costs eat away at fragile profits, having feed produced just a few kilometers from the farm gate could be the difference between staying afloat or folding under pressure.

RICHI's turnkey solution has provided a tested template: compact, easy to install, cheap to run, and simple to maintain with only one or two workers. For a new generation of Tobago farmers, it's not just machinery — it's the start of a fresh chapter where agriculture stands shoulder-to-shoulder with energy exports, giving Tobago more than just oil to rely on.

Final Thoughts: Small Steps, Strong Roots

What began as a farmer's frustration with rising bagged feed prices has turned into a clear demonstration that small-scale solutions can have outsized impact. In a region where agriculture and industry have sometimes seemed at odds, this 400-500kg/h small animal feed plant in Trinidad and Tobago is a reminder that there’s room for both — and that sometimes, the quiet hum of a feed pellet mill on a family farm can say as much about a nation's resilience as any oil well ever could.