3-4T/H Cassava Pellet Making Machine in Vietnam

From the pellet mill table, the SZLH320 (37kW) was selected. Why this model?

• Capacity: 3-4 tons/hour – matches their 1,000-ton monthly requirement (one shift)
• Power: 37kW main motor – sufficient for cassava-based formulations
• Ring die size: 320mm diameter – 6mm die for dairy cows
• Conditioner: 4kW – essential for starch gelatinization and cyanide reduction
• Versatility: Handles both root meal and foliage meal

The farm manager chose the SZLH320 for its medium capacity and ability to handle fibrous foliage.

What He's Processing – Cassava Root and Foliage Dairy Pellets

Vietnam is a major cassava producer. The farm uses:

• Cassava root meal (farm-grown): 40-50% – energy source
• Cassava foliage meal (farm-grown): 20-25% – fiber and protein (20-25% protein)
• Soybean meal (imported): 10-15% – protein supplement
• Rice bran (local – Vietnam is a major rice producer): 10-15% – fiber and energy
• Minerals and vitamins: 2-3%

Cassava foliage processing:

1. Leaves are harvested after root harvest
2. Wilted for 24 hours (reduces cyanide)
3. Sun-dried to 12-14% moisture
4. Hammer-milled to foliage meal (2-3mm particle size)

Final product: Dairy cow pellets (6mm diameter)

Target protein: 16-18%

Target fiber: 15-18%

Target moisture after pelleting: 12-13%

Installation – Dairy Feed Mill

The SZLH320 arrived at the Port of Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai Port) – Vietnam's largest port.

Shipping time from Qingdao to Ho Chi Minh City is about 7-10 days. The machine was packed in a 20-foot container with:

• SZLH320 pellet mill main unit (37kW motor)
• Feeder (1.5kW) and conditioner (4kW)
• Ring die (6mm for dairy cows – included)
• Spare roller shells (one set)
• Installation manual and electrical diagram in Vietnamese

Customs clearance in Ho Chi Minh City took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 18% higher than the FOB price.

Installation took two weeks. The farm had an existing building – they poured a 200mm concrete foundation for the SZLH320. The electrical hookup required 380V, 50Hz three-phase (Vietnamese standard). The 37kW motor required a 100-amp breaker.

The first test run was with cassava-based dairy formula (6mm die). The conditioner added steam to reach 65°C (lower temperature for dairy feed), 16% moisture. The pellet mill ran smoothly at 3.5 tons/hour. Pellet durability (PDI) was 91% – acceptable for dairy feed.

Performance – High-Fiber Pellets, Better Milk Production

After six months of operation, the farm manager documented the following results:

Before (buying commercial dairy feed):

• Commercial feed cost: 10,000 VND/kg (€0.38/kg)
• Monthly feed cost (1,000 tons): 10,000,000,000 VND (€380,000)
• Milk production: 25 liters/cow/day
• Feed cost per liter of milk: 5,000 VND (€0.19)

After (in-house cassava-based pellets with SZLH320):

• Cassava root cost: 2,500 VND/kg (€0.095/kg)
• Cassava foliage cost: 1,500 VND/kg (€0.057/kg)
• Other ingredients: 4,000 VND/kg (€0.15/kg)
• Processing cost: 500 VND/kg (€0.019/kg)
• Total in-house cost: 8,500 VND/kg (€0.32/kg)
• Monthly feed cost (1,000 tons): 8,500,000,000 VND (€323,000)
• Monthly savings: 1,500,000,000 VND (€57,000)
• Milk production: 28 liters/cow/day (12% increase)
• Feed cost per liter of milk: 4,000 VND (€0.15) – 20% reduction

Production output:

• Capacity: 3.5 tons/hour
• Daily output (8 hours): 28 tons
• Monthly output (22 days): 616 tons (they run 1.5 shifts)
• Annual output: 7,400 tons

The cassava pellet making machine cost delivered approximately 220,000,000 VND (about €8,400). Payback period was about 1-2 months based on feed savings alone.

Customer Feedback – The Farm Manager's Experience

"Dairy cows need fiber. Cassava root alone doesn't have enough. But cassava leaves have fiber and protein. We grow both.

The SZLH320 cassava pellet making machine in Vietnam makes 6mm pellets from a mix of roots and leaves. The conditioner at 65°C gelatinizes the root starch and reduces cyanide in the leaves. The pellets hold together well.

Our milk production increased from 25 to 28 liters per cow per day. That's 3 more liters. At 15,000 VND/liter, that's 45,000 VND more per cow per day. For 2,000 cows, that's 90,000,000 VND (€3,400) more per day.

Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any dairy farm with cassava, this is the machine."

Why Cassava Foliage for Dairy Cows

• Fiber content: 15-20% (beneficial for rumen health)
• Protein content: 20-25% (reduces soybean meal costs)
• Calcium: 1-2% (important for milk production)
• Cost: Essentially free (byproduct of root harvest)
• Cyanide reduction: Wilt + sun-dry + steam at 65°C reduces cyanide to safe levels (<10 ppm)

The Conditioner – Dual Purpose

1. Starch gelatinization: 65°C gelatinizes cassava starch for natural binding
2. Cyanide reduction: Steam at 65°C destroys cyanogenic compounds in foliage

Lower temperature (65°C vs 75°C for poultry) preserves protein quality for ruminants.

Ring Die Selection – 6mm for Dairy Cows

• 4mm: Too small – cows eat too fast, risk of acidosis
• 6mm: Ideal for dairy cows
• 8mm: Too large – cows may sort

Compression ratio: 1:10 (60mm die thickness for 6mm holes)

Foliage Processing – Safe Cyanide Levels

1. Wilt: 24 hours (reduces cyanide by 50%)
2. Sun-dry: 2-3 days to 12-14% moisture (reduces another 30%)
3. Steam in conditioner: 65°C (destroys remaining cyanide)

Final cyanide content: <5 ppm (safe for dairy cows, safe level is <50 ppm)

Milk Production Increase – The Economic Driver

• Before (commercial feed): 25 liters/cow/day
• After (cassava-based pellets): 28 liters/cow/day
• Increase: 3 liters/cow/day
• Daily additional milk value (2,000 cows): 2,000 × 3 × 15,000 VND = 90,000,000 VND (€3,400)
• Monthly additional milk value: 2,700,000,000 VND (€103,000)
• Annual additional milk value: 32,400,000,000 VND (€1.2 million)

Feed Cost Reduction – Another Benefit

• Commercial feed: 10,000 VND/kg
• In-house cassava pellets: 8,500 VND/kg
• Saving: 1,500 VND/kg
• Monthly feed savings (1,000 tons): 1,500,000,000 VND (€57,000)
• Annual feed savings: 18,000,000,000 VND (€685,000)

Total annual benefit (milk increase + feed savings): 50,400,000,000 VND (€1.9 million).

Shipping – Qingdao to Ho Chi Minh City

Shipping time from Qingdao to Ho Chi Minh City is about 7-10 days. The route goes through the South China Sea.

Customs clearance in Ho Chi Minh City took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 18% higher than the FOB price.

Truck transport from Ho Chi Minh City to Binh Duong was about 50km – roughly 1.5 hours.

What the Farm Manager Learned – Lessons for Other Dairy Farms

1. Use 6mm pellets for dairy cows. 4mm is too small, 8mm is too large.
2. Condition at 65°C for dairy feed. Lower temperature preserves protein. Poultry needs 75°C.
3. Add cassava foliage for fiber and protein. The leaves are 20-25% protein – free protein supplement.
4. Test foliage for cyanide. Wilt + sun-dry + steam reduces cyanide to safe levels (<5 ppm).
5. Milk production increases with better nutrition. The farm's milk yield increased by 12%.

What RICHI Provided Beyond the Machine

• Vietnamese documentation: The manual and electrical diagram were provided in Vietnamese.
• Foliage processing guidance: RICHI provided recommendations for cassava leaf processing (wilt, dry, steam at 65°C).
• Die selection guidance: RICHI recommended 6mm for dairy cows.
• Conditioning guidance: RICHI provided temperature recommendations for dairy feed (65°C).
• Spare parts kit: RICHI recommended a spare parts kit – roller shells, die, bearings.
• Remote support: When the farm manager had questions about conditioning temperature, a RICHI technician walked him through it via video call.

Is a Cassava Pellet Making Machine Right for Your Operation?

For a dairy farm with access to cassava roots and foliage, a pellet mill is the key to producing cost-effective, high-fiber feed.

Consider the SZLH320 if:

• Your capacity requirement is 3-4 tons/hour
• You have access to cassava roots and leaves
• You want to reduce feed costs and increase milk production
• You need high-fiber pellets for dairy cows

Consider a smaller model (SZLH250) if:

• Your capacity requirement is 1.0-1.5 tons/hour

For the Vietnamese dairy farm, the SZLH320 was the right investment. It produced 6mm high-fiber pellets from cassava roots and leaves, reduced feed costs, increased milk production by 12%, and paid for itself in two months.

Final Thoughts

If you're a dairy farm in a cassava-producing region, don't just use the roots. Use the leaves too. Cassava foliage provides the fiber that dairy cows need and protein that boosts milk production.

The SZLH320 cassava pellet making machine produces 3.5 tons per hour of 6mm dairy pellets from a mix of cassava roots and leaves. The conditioner at 65°C gelatinizes root starch and reduces foliage cyanide. The result is high-fiber, cost-effective feed that increases milk yield.

For dairy farms, the math is simple: use cassava roots + leaves = lower feed costs + higher milk production = higher profits.

RICHI offers documentation in Vietnamese, foliage processing guidance, conditioning advice, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your herd size, cassava availability, and capacity for a recommendation. Tell them about your dairy farm operation – they can help you select the right cassava pellet making machine to turn local cassava into high-performance dairy feed.