This project concerns an animal feed pellet machine for sale in South Africa. A large pig farm in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, near the town of Nelspruit, was producing 30,000 pigs annually. They had been buying commercial pelleted feed from a national mill for years.
This project concerns an animal feed pellet machine for sale in South Africa. A large pig farm in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, near the town of Nelspruit, was producing 30,000 pigs annually. They had been buying commercial pelleted feed from a national mill for years.
But the cost was rising. The quality was inconsistent. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions caused delays. The farm owner (let's call him Pieter) decided it was time to produce his own feed.
Pieter explained the situation: "We were at the mercy of the commercial mills. Prices went up every year. Sometimes the pellets were dusty. Sometimes they were too hard. During the pandemic, we had weeks where feed deliveries were late. I decided to look for an animal feed pellet machine for sale in South Africa that could supply our entire operation."
The farm had 1,500 sows producing 30,000 weaners and finishers annually. Total feed consumption was about 12,000 tons per year – 1,000 tons per month. Pieter needed a pellet machine that could produce 2-3 tons per hour.
Name:
feed pellet machine
Country:
South Africa
Date:
2025
Capacity:
3-4 tons/hour
Model:
SZLH320
Main Motor Power:
37kW
Raw Materials:
Corn, Soybean meal, Wheat bran
Pellet diameter:
3.5-4.5mm
From the pellet mill table, the SZLH320 animal feed pellet machine(37kW) was selected. Why this model?
Pieter chose the SZLH320 animal feed pellet machine to replace their reliance on commercial mills entirely.
South Africa grows corn and soybeans. Pieter's farm sources:
The farm produces three main pig feed types:
The SZLH320 animal pig feed pellet machine arrived at the Port of Durban – South Africa's largest port.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Durban is about 25-30 days. The machine was packed in a 20-foot container with:
Customs clearance in Durban took about 5 days. Total landed cost was about 22% higher than the FOB price.
Installation took three weeks. The farm had an existing building converted into a feed mill. A concrete foundation (200mm thick) was poured for the SZLH320.
The electrical hookup required 380V, 50Hz three-phase (South African standard). The 37kW motor required a 100-amp breaker.
The first test run was with grower feed formula (4.5mm die). The conditioner added steam to reach 75°C, 17% moisture. The pellet machine ran smoothly at 3.5 tons/hour. Pellet durability (PDI) was 95% – excellent for pig feed.
After six months of operation, Pieter documented the following results:
Before (buying from commercial mills):
After (in-house with SZLH320):
Production output:
Here's what Pieter said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation):
"Buying feed from commercial mills was expensive and unpredictable. I finally found an animal feed pellet machine for sale in South Africa that could handle our volume.
The SZLH320 animal feed pellet machine produces 3.5 tons per hour of excellent pellets. Our pigs are growing faster – FCR improved from 2.8 to 2.65. That's 450 tons less feed per year.
The machine is easy to operate. One man per shift runs the entire feed mill. We switch between 3.5mm for weaners and 4.5mm for growers in about 30 minutes.
A few operational notes: The conditioner is essential – 75°C, 17% moisture gives the best pellets. The roller shells wear every 1,000-1,200 hours. The 4.5mm die has produced 2,500 tons and still looks good.
Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any large pig farm, owning your own pellet mill is a game changer. The SZLH320 paid for itself in the first month."
Vertical integration makes sense for large pig farms. Here's why:
The SZLH320 animal feed pellet machine's 4kW conditioner adds steam before pelleting:
| Feed Type | Pellet Size | Die Thickness | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weaner | 3.5mm | 32mm | Easy for small pigs to eat |
| Grower/Finisher | 4.5mm | 45mm | Optimal for growing pigs |
Pieter's FCR improved from 2.8 to 2.65 – a 0.15 point improvement. For 30,000 pigs:
The SZLH320 animal feed pellet machine shipped from Qingdao to Port of Durban, South Africa.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Durban is about 25-30 days. The route goes through the South China Sea, past Singapore, across the Indian Ocean, and around the southern tip of Africa.
The machine was packed in a 20-foot container. Customs clearance in Durban took about 5 days. Total landed cost was about 22% higher than the FOB price.
The truck transport from Durban to Mpumalanga was about 600km – roughly 7 hours.
If you're a large pig farmer in South Africa still buying feed from commercial mills, do the math. The markup is substantial. For a farm with 30,000 pigs per year, the savings from in-house feed production can exceed ZAR 1.6 million per month.
The SZLH320 animal feed pellet machine produces 3.5 tons per hour of durable pig pellets. The conditioner ensures proper starch gelatinization. The ring die design provides long life. The result is consistent, cost-effective feed for your operation.
For pig farmers, the math is simple: own your feed production = lower costs = better FCR = higher margins.
RICHI offers documentation in English, die selection guidance, steam conditioning advice, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your herd size, feed requirement, and power availability for a recommendation. Tell them about your pig farm operation – they can help you select the right animal feed pellet machine for your in-house feed production.
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