5-6T/H Cow Feed Pellet Making Machine in USA

Who is the Customer: A Growing Family-Owned Feed Business

Our client for this project is not a giant commercial conglomerate — but rather a second-generation family-run feed company based in Iowa. They buy locally grown corn, soybean meal, DDGS (dried distillers grains with solubles), and alfalfa hay. They blend these raw ingredients into balanced rations for beef cattle feedlots and smaller dairies within a 150-mile radius.

For years, they delivered only ground or cracked rations in bulk trucks. However, customer feedback kept coming back with the same complaints:

• Too much fines and dust loss in bins and bunks.
• Cattle sorting loose mixes, eating the tasty grains but ignoring roughage.
• Difficulty storing feed for more than a few weeks in humid summer conditions.

These headaches added up to one big realization — it was time to transform their mash feed into pellets.

Why They Bought a Single Cow Feed Pellet Making Machine, Not a Full Plant

The company already owned hammer mills, grain bins, mixers, and augers. What they lacked was a robust, industrial-grade pelletizer that could handle fibrous mixes and run efficiently every day.

They did not want to rebuild their entire operation or risk huge downtime while learning a new system. Instead, they chose to invest step by step: install one high-performance cow feed pellet press that would run alongside their existing mixer, transforming their mash into durable pellets.

This strategic move would:

• Cut waste by producing uniform pellets instead of loose mash.
• Give their cattle feed customers better feed conversion and less sorting.
• Allow them to offer bagged or bulk pelleted rations, opening new markets.
• Stabilize shelf life and make transport easier across state lines.

Selecting the Right Machine: Practical Capacity for a Midwest Operation

Given their average daily production goals, RICHI Machinery’s technical team suggested the SZLH350 cow feed pellet making machine. Let’s break down why:

• Motor power: 55 kW main motor, robust enough for high-starch, medium-fiber formulas.
• Feeder motor: 1.5 kW, ensuring steady, adjustable raw material flow.
• Conditioner motor: 4 kW, supplying enough steam to pre-condition corn-based mixes for better pellet durability.
• Ring die diameter: 350 mm, ideal for moderate batch sizes.
• Pellet size: Flexible, 4–10 mm pellets, with most cattle feed run at 8 mm.
• Output capacity: 5–6 tons per hour — enough to cover daily orders without needing multiple units.

The company chose the SZLH350 cow feed pellet making machine in USA because it struck the sweet spot: big enough to scale up but not overkill for their production volume.

Local Raw Materials: A Key to Profitable Pelleting

For this Iowa feed producer, feedstock availability is never a problem. They purchase:

• #2 Yellow Corn — the backbone of most US beef and dairy feed.
• Soybean meal — plenty available due to the Midwest’s vast soybean crush capacity.
• DDGS — a cost-effective protein source thanks to the region’s strong ethanol production.
• Alfalfa meal or chopped hay — for fiber and digestibility.
• Vitamin and mineral premixes — customized for local herd needs.

The typical blend they run through the cow feed pellet machine is roughly:

• 60% corn
• 20% soybean meal
• 10% DDGS
• 10% alfalfa meal, sometimes replaced by prairie grass hay in late season.

This mix balances energy, protein, and roughage — and critically, it stays well within the fiber limits that the SZLH350 cow feed pellet press can handle efficiently.

What This Machine Means for Their Customers

The main product is a standard beef finishing pellet for mid-sized feedlots, but this customer also offers a higher-fiber pellet for local dairy farms who want to boost milk production without sorting.

By running these rations through their new cow feed pelletizer, they ensure:

• Consistent nutrient balance in every bite — no more selective feeding.
• Easier handling for clients using automatic bunk feeders.
• Cleaner transport with minimal fines lost in trucks and bins.

They do not use the pellet press for poultry or pet feed — they know a ring die feed pellet mill like this does not produce floating or extruded feed for fish or dogs. Instead, it’s a perfect fit for dry cattle rations.

An Upgrade, Not a Risk: Why This Investment Makes Sense

Before choosing RICHI’s cow feed pellet making machine, the company had tried outsourcing pelleting to a larger feed mill 50 miles away. But transport costs, batch scheduling, and minimum orders ate into profit.

By adding the SZLH350 feed pellet machine on-site, they gained control:

• Run small or medium batches on demand.
• Keep custom formulas separate, reducing cross-contamination.
• Adjust die specs for different pellet sizes as local customers request them.

Most importantly, they can run this cattle feed pellet making machine in sync with their old hammer mill and mixer. One operator can monitor all three stations, which keeps labor costs stable.

How the Pellet Press Performs in Real US Conditions

The company installed the pellet mill in an insulated corner of their existing warehouse. They hooked up a small boiler to supply steam for the conditioner, which is crucial for durable, hard pellets that resist breakage during bagging or bulk delivery.

After only three months of operation, they found:

• Pellet durability index (PDI) consistently above 88%.
• Feed loss during transport and bunk delivery dropped by 6–8%.
• Repeat orders from local beef producers increased by 15% as word spread that they could now deliver bagged pelleted rations.
• Reduced labor for customers who no longer needed to blend additional supplements on-farm.

A Community Impact: More Than Just Their Own Farm

One surprise benefit? Local cow-calf operators started requesting small seasonal custom runs — especially in winter when pastures are covered by snow and roughage needs increase.

So this single cow feed pellet machine has not only upgraded the company’s main cattle feed production line — it’s also created a service that helps small cattle farms order 5–20 tons of pellets without needing to buy mash and worry about mixing on-farm.

Why the SZLH350 Outshines Older Equipment

Some small feed producers in the Midwest still rely on small flat die pelletizers originally designed for chicken feed. These often clog when running alfalfa or DDGS blends — the fiber binds up, rollers slip, and throughput drops.

A ring die design like the SZLH350 cow feed pellet making machine in USA fixes this:

• Heavier frame and rollers.
• Better compression ratio for moderate-fiber cattle rations.
• Reliable wear parts, longer die life.
• Higher hourly capacity — so one 8-hour shift can cover daily needs without overtime.

RICHI’s Role: A Smooth Start, Zero Surprises

When you run a feed operation in the US, downtime is money lost. The owner told us that what sold him was not just the machine but the clear, responsive service:

• RICHI’s team matched the right die spec for Midwest corn moisture and DDGS inclusion.
• Provided layout drawings so the new machine could fit the existing grinder and mixer setup.
• Trained the owner’s two operators via live video sessions.
• Delivered spare parts upfront — spare die, roller shells, bearings.
• 24/7 support for first month’s run-in — no language or timezone barrier.

The Bottom Line: Practical, Scalable, Profitable

For this Iowa feed producer, one cow feed pellet making machine in USA changed the game:

• It did not require new buildings.
• It runs on a single shift.
• It added a premium product that local feedlots wanted.

It paid for itself through higher margins on value-added pelleted feed and saved costs that would have gone to an outside contract mill.

Practical Tips for Other US Feed Operators

If you’re a cattle feed mill, cow-calf ranch, or custom blender in the USA, here’s why a mid-size cow pellet press might be the step you need:

• You already have a mixer or hammer mill? Great — you don’t need to buy them again.
• Want to reduce fines and dust claims? Pelleting is proven.
• Need better pellet durability? Steam conditioning + ring die = fewer breakages.

Want to control output? A single well-chosen pelletizer does the job without the cost of a mega plant.

What Makes RICHI Different for US Buyers

Hundreds of feed operators around the world trust RICHI’s ring die pellet mills because:

• Every unit is built for the real fiber levels in cattle rations — not just fine poultry mash.
• Our team helps match dies, rollers, and conditioners to US corn, soybean, or grass.
• Shipping and spares are handled proactively, so you aren’t left waiting.
• Remote training keeps your team productive from day one.

Ready to Plan Your Upgrade?

A cow feed pellet making machine in USA isn’t just a piece of metal — it’s a smart way to control your feed quality, win more loyal customers, and keep profits where they belong: on your farm.

RICHI Machinery is ready to help you:

• Test your own feed formula for pellet quality.
• Quote the best model for your daily output.
• Design a layout that works with what you already have.
• Deliver the spare parts and support you need to run worry-free.

Ready to get practical? Contact RICHI today — and let’s talk about how the right pellet press can help your cows, your customers, and your cash flow.