5-6T/H Chicken Feed Pellet Machine for Starter Feed Formulation in South Africa

After a detailed review of their starter feed production volume—approximately 15,000 tons per year—we recommended the SZLH350 ring die pellet mill with a 55kW main motor. This model is ideal for large-scale starter feed production, producing 5-6 tons per hour of high-quality pellets. The company purchased one unit dedicated exclusively to starter feed production.

Why Starter Feed Formulation Requires Special Pellet Development

Day-old chicks have small beaks and sensitive digestive systems. They need small, uniform pellets (3.0-3.5mm) that are easy to consume and digest. The pelleting process gelatinizes starches, improving digestibility by 5-10%, and eliminates fines that chicks tend to waste.

The SZLH350's ring die design produces uniform, durable starter pellets. The company's nutritionist tested starter pellets from the SZLH350 and found that the Pellet Durability Index (PDI) averaged 92% for the 3.5mm die, with fines reduced from 20-25% (crumbles) to under 5% (pellets).

Machine Selection and Process Parameters for Starter Feed

The company selected the SZLH350 with a 55kW motor, configured for continuous operation. They purchased two ring dies for the starter phase:

• 3.0mm die (chromium stainless steel): For super starter (0-7 days) – very small pellets
• 3.5mm die (chromium stainless steel): For starter (7-14 days)

The starter feed formulation, typical for the South African market (using locally available ingredients):

Super starter (0-7 days, 3.0mm pellets, high protein - 23-24%):

• 35% ground maize (fine grind, 600 microns)
• 30% soybean meal (48% protein, locally processed)
• 15% full-fat soya (roasted, local)
• 8% fishmeal (imported)
• 5% vegetable oil
• 4% wheat bran
• 3% premix (vitamins, minerals, anticoccidial)

Starter (7-14 days, 3.5mm pellets, protein - 22%):

• 40% ground maize
• 28% soybean meal
• 10% full-fat soya
• 8% fishmeal
• 6% vegetable oil
• 4% wheat bran
• 4% premix

One challenge in South Africa is the inclusion of full-fat soya (locally roasted), which has a higher oil content than defatted soybean meal. The oil can lubricate the die, reducing pellet durability. The SZLH350's conditioner allowed the operator to add sufficient steam (5-6%) to gelatinize the starches and compensate for the oil content.

What the Pelletized Starter Feed Is Used For

• Super starter pellets (3.0mm): For chicks 0-7 days
• Starter pellets (3.5mm): For chicks 7-14 days
• Grower pellets (4.0mm): Produced by their other pellet mills for birds 14-28 days
• Finisher pellets (4.5-5.0mm): For birds 28+ days

The company's production manager reported that after switching to starter pellets from the SZLH350 chicken feed making machine, feed conversion during the starter phase (0-14 days) improved from 1.40:1 to 1.32:1. Chick mortality during the first week dropped from 4% to 2.5%.

Customer Feedback After 20 Months of Operation

The production manager said:

This chicken feed pellet machine for starter feed formulation has been a major improvement for our hatchery-to-broiler operations. We used to produce crumbled starter feed, but the fines were a big problem—chicks wasted them, and we saw high early mortality. Now we produce 3.0mm and 3.5mm pellets. The chicks eat everything, and the difference in performance is remarkable.

The mill runs about 16 hours per day, 6 days per week. We have put about 8,000 hours on it. The 3.0mm die lasted 1,200 hours, and the 3.5mm die is still in good condition after 2,500 hours. The gearbox has been trouble-free. We change the oil every 2,000 hours according to your specification.

The only issue we had was with the full-fat soya. The oil content was causing the pellets to be soft. Your commissioning engineer helped us adjust the steam conditioning parameters, and now the pellets are durable. We also reduced the inclusion rate of full-fat soya slightly and added more soybean meal.

The company has since installed a second dedicated starter line with another SZLH350.

Other Applications of the SZLH350 Pellet Mill

• Turkey starter pellets (3.5-4.0mm): For young poults
• Duck starter pellets (3.0-3.5mm): For ducklings
• Quail feed (2.5-3.0mm mini-pellets): For quail chicks and adults
• Pig starter pellets (3.0-4.0mm): For weaned piglets
• Rabbit feed (4.0-5.0mm pellets): For young rabbits (requires higher fiber formulation)
• Sheep and goat feed (4.0-5.0mm pellets): For small ruminants

Important note on aquafeed production: The SZLH350 is not suitable for floating fish feed production (which requires an extruder) nor for sinking shrimp feed (which requires specialized dies and multi-stage conditioners for proper water stability). However, it can produce sinking catfish feed (2.5-3.0mm) with proper formulation and conditioning.

RICHI feed pellet mills are used in feed manufacturing operations of all sizes worldwide. Our SZLH series includes models from 22kW to 315kW, with capacities from 1 to 40 tons per hour. For chicken starter feed, the SZLH350 is an ideal size, offering the flexibility to produce both 3.0mm and 3.5mm pellets.

Logistics: Shipping from Qingdao to Durban

The SZLH350 was shipped from Qingdao to the Port of Durban, South Africa's busiest seaport—about 28 days at sea. Durban serves the Mpumalanga province via well-established road networks. From Durban, the company arranged truck transport to the feed mill in the Delmas region, approximately 550 kilometers inland. The total transit time was about 38 days.

The animal feed pellet machine was shipped in multiple crates: the main gearbox and motor in one heavy crate, the pelleting chamber and ring dies in a second crate, and the feeder/conditioner and control panel in additional crates. The company's maintenance team assembled the mill in three days with remote support from RICHI engineers.

Pre-Sale Services We Provided

• Starter feed die consultation: We helped select the optimal die hole sizes (3.0mm for super starter, 3.5mm for starter) and recommended chromium stainless steel dies for durability.
• Full-fat soya handling advice: We recommended a compression ratio of 1:12 for both dies to ensure adequate pellet durability despite the oil content in the full-fat soya.
• Steam conditioning analysis: We determined that the 3.0mm and 3.5mm dies required 15-20 seconds of conditioning time and 5-6% steam addition for optimal gelatinization.
• Grind size specification: We advised fine grinding (600 microns) for all ingredients to ensure good pellet quality.
• Spare parts kit: We supplied a starter kit including two spare roller shells for each die size, a full set of die screws, two drive belts, and a set of conditioning paddles.
• On-site commissioning: We sent a RICHI engineer to South Africa for 10 days to oversee installation, train operators, and optimize pelleting parameters.

The production manager later told us that the on-site commissioning was crucial—the engineer identified that the full-fat soya was causing soft pellets and adjusted the steam conditioning parameters to fix the issue.

Plans for Additional Mills

The company is now planning to install a third starter line for organic broiler production. They will use the same SZLH350 model poultry feed pellet machine to maintain die and parts commonality across their starter feed lines. The company is also evaluating the SZLH420 for their grower and finisher feed production, which requires higher throughput (10-12 tons per hour).

Across South Africa, a chicken feed pellet machine for starter feed formulation is an essential investment for any integrated poultry producer seeking to improve early chick performance, reduce mortality, and lower feed conversion ratios.

The ability to produce 3.0-3.5mm pellets from locally available ingredients gives producers control over the most critical phase of broiler development. RICHI Machinery—proudly shipping from Qingdao, China—supports poultry producers across Africa and beyond.

For more information or to discuss your specific starter feed formulation requirements—whether 3.0mm super starter or 3.5mm starter pellets—contact RICHI Machinery today.

A RICHI SZLH series feed pellet machine can help you produce high-quality starter pellets that improve chick growth, reduce feed waste, and increase your profitability. RICHI—your partner in sustainable poultry feeding.