15-18T/H Feed Pellet Machine for Turkey Nutrition System in Spain

Before contacting us, the company had evaluated pellet mills from German and Italian manufacturers. The equipment was excellent, but the lead times exceeded 12 months, and the prices were far above their budget.

A feed industry consultant who had seen RICHI’s SZLH series operating in France and Portugal recommended our machines as a reliable, high-performance alternative. The company already had a state-of-the-art upstream system: two hammer mills (160kW each) for grinding cereals, a twin-shaft paddle mixer machine (4,000 kg batch capacity), and a counter-flow cooler. They did not need a complete animal feed production line. What they needed was a single, very high-capacity pellet mill that could produce 15-18 tons per hour of turkey feed across multiple life stages.

After a detailed review of their nutritional requirements and production volume—approximately 90,000 tons of turkey feed annually—we recommended the SZLH508 ring die pellet mill with a 160kW main motor.

This model is the perfect size for a large-scale turkey operation, producing 15-16 tons per hour of high-quality pellets. The company purchased one unit as a direct replacement for an aging European mill that was being retired.

Why Turkey Nutrition Requires a Specialized Pelleting System

Turkeys have a longer growth cycle than broilers—up to 20 weeks for toms—and their nutritional needs change significantly during this period. Starter turkeys need high-protein, fine-textured pellets (3.5-4.0mm) to encourage early intake.

Grower turkeys benefit from medium-sized pellets (5.0-6.0mm) that balance energy and protein. Finisher turkeys, especially toms destined for the whole-bird market, require large pellets (7.0-8.0mm) to stimulate feed intake and prevent sorting.

The SZLH508’s robust ring die design allows quick die changes (45-60 minutes), enabling the mill to produce multiple pellet sizes from a single machine. The company’s nutritionist tested pellets from the SZLH508 and found that the Pellet Durability Index (PDI) averaged 95-96% across all pellet sizes—significantly improving feed efficiency.

Machine Selection and Process Parameters for Turkey Nutrition

The company selected the SZLH508 poultry feed pellet machine for turkey with a 160kW motor, configured for heavy-duty continuous operation. They purchased four ring dies for different nutritional phases:

• 3.5mm die (chromium stainless steel): For turkey starter (0-4 weeks)
• 5.0mm die (chromium stainless steel): For turkey grower (4-10 weeks)
• 6.5mm die (chromium stainless steel): For turkey developer (10-14 weeks)
• 8.0mm die (chromium stainless steel): For turkey finisher (14-20 weeks)

The feed formulations, optimized for Spanish turkey production (using locally available ingredients):

Turkey starter (0-4 weeks, 3.5mm pellets, high protein - 28%):

• 30% ground maize
• 28% soybean meal (48% protein)
• 15% wheat
• 10% fishmeal (Peruvian, imported)
• 8% vegetable oil
• 5% wheat bran
• 4% premix

Turkey grower (4-10 weeks, 5.0mm pellets, medium-high protein - 24%):

• 38% ground maize
• 24% soybean meal
• 12% wheat
• 8% sunflower meal (local Spanish production)
• 6% vegetable oil
• 6% wheat bran
• 6% premix

Turkey developer (10-14 weeks, 6.5mm pellets, medium protein - 20%):

• 45% ground maize
• 18% soybean meal
• 10% wheat
• 10% sunflower meal
• 8% vegetable oil
• 5% wheat bran
• 4% premix

Turkey finisher (14-20 weeks, 8.0mm pellets, lower protein - 17% but higher energy):

• 50% ground maize
• 14% soybean meal
• 10% wheat
• 8% sunflower meal
• 10% vegetable oil
• 4% wheat bran
• 4% premix

One challenge with the 8.0mm finisher pellets was achieving adequate durability without over-conditioning. The SZLH508’s extended conditioner (3.0 meters with dual steam injection ports) allowed precise control of moisture and temperature. The company also added a post-pelleting fat coater to apply 1-2% vegetable oil after pelleting, which improved pellet appearance and energy density.

What the Pelletized Turkey Feed Is Used For

• Turkey starter pellets (3.5mm): For poults 0-28 days
• Turkey grower pellets (5.0mm): For birds 4-10 weeks
• Turkey developer pellets (6.5mm): For birds 10-14 weeks
• Turkey finisher pellets (8.0mm): For birds 14-20 weeks
• Turkey breeder pellets (5.0mm, higher calcium): For breeding stock

The company’s production manager reported that after switching to pellets from the SZLH508, feed conversion improved from 2.75:1 to 2.55:1 (kg feed per kg gain). Turkey mortality, particularly during the starter phase, dropped by 2.5 percentage points (from 7% to 4.5%).

The turkeys reached market weight (22-24 kg for toms, 14-16 kg for hens) nine days earlier on average, significantly reducing production costs and improving the return on investment for the processing plant. Breast meat yield increased by 3.2%, which added substantial value to the company’s contracts with further processing customers.

Customer Feedback After 16 Months of Operation

The production manager said:

This feed pellet machine for turkey nutrition system has completely transformed our feed production. We now produce pellets for every phase of turkey growth—from 3.5mm starter to 8.0mm finisher. The die changes are straightforward, taking about 45 to 50 minutes. Our nutritionist is thrilled because the pellets deliver exactly the nutrient profile she formulates.

The mill runs about 18 hours per day, 6 days per week. We have put about 7,500 hours on it. The 3.5mm starter die lasted 1,200 hours, the 5.0mm grower die lasted 2,000 hours, and the 6.5mm and 8.0mm dies are still in good condition after 3,000 and 2,500 hours respectively. The gearbox has been trouble-free. We change the oil every 2,000 hours.

The only significant issue was with steam distribution. The original steam injection ports created uneven moisture in the conditioner. Your commissioning engineer helped us relocate the ports and install a baffle system, and the pellet quality improved dramatically. We also added a fat coater after the pellet mill for finisher feed, which further improved pellet quality.

The company has since installed a second SZLH508 for a new production line dedicated to turkey breeder and starter feeds.

Other Applications of the SZLH508 Pellet Mill

• Broiler feed (3.5-5.0mm pellets): For chicken meat production
• Layer feed (4.0-5.0mm pellets or crumbles): For egg production
• Pig feed (4.5-6.0mm pellets): For grower and finisher pigs
• Duck feed (5-6mm pellets): For waterfowl operations
• Cattle feed (6-8mm pellets): For feedlot calves
• Aquafeed (2-4mm pellets): For trout and salmon
• Rabbit feed (4-5mm high-fiber pellets): For commercial rabbit operations
• Organic fertilizer pellets: Compressed poultry litter and agricultural residues

RICHI animal feed pellet machines 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 the large-scale turkey producer, the SZLH508 is a proven workhorse, offering the durability, capacity, and die size flexibility needed for modern turkey nutrition systems.

Logistics: Shipping from Qingdao to Valencia

The SZLH508 was shipped from Qingdao to the Port of Valencia, Spain’s busiest seaport—about 35 days at sea. Valencia serves the Castilla y León region via well-established rail and road networks.

From Valencia, the company arranged truck transport to the feed mill in the Valladolid region, approximately 500 kilometers inland. The total transit time was about 45 days.

The feed pellet machine for turkey nutrition system was shipped in multiple crates: the main gearbox and motor (one heavy crate), the pelleting chamber and ring dies (two crates), the feeder/conditioner assembly (one crate), and the control panel and spare parts (one crate). The company’s maintenance team assembled the mill in 10 days with assistance from a RICHI commissioning engineer.

Pre-Sale Services We Provided

• Nutritional phase consultation: We worked with the company’s nutritionist to map out four growth phases (starter, grower, developer, finisher) and selected the optimal die hole sizes (3.5mm, 5.0mm, 6.5mm, 8.0mm) and chromium stainless steel dies for each phase.
• Compression ratio selection for turkey diets: We recommended compression ratios of 1:14 for starter (hardest), 1:12 for grower, 1:11 for developer, and 1:10 for finisher (softest).
• Steam conditioning analysis for large pellets: We calculated that the 8.0mm finisher die required 30-35 seconds of conditioning time and 4-5% steam addition to properly gelatinize starches for optimal pellet durability. We also recommended a post-pelleting fat coater for finisher feed to improve pellet quality and energy density.
• Die and roller material specification: We recommended chromium stainless steel dies and stainless steel roller shells for all die sizes to resist wear from the abrasive sunflower meal in some formulations.
• Spare parts kit: We supplied a comprehensive starter kit including two spare roller shells for each die size, a full set of die screws, three drive belts, and a set of conditioning paddles.
• On-site commissioning and training: We sent a senior RICHI engineer to Spain for three weeks to oversee installation, train operators, optimize pelleting parameters for all four die sizes, and troubleshoot the steam distribution system.

The production manager later said that the on-site commissioning was essential—the engineer identified that the original steam injection locations were causing uneven moisture distribution. After relocating the ports and installing a baffle system, the pellet quality became much more consistent.

Plans for Additional Mills

The company is now planning to install a third pellet mill—an SZLH558 with 185kW motor—for a new turkey facility in the Aragon region. The SZLH508 feed pellet machine for turkey nutrition system in Spain will remain in service for grower, developer, and finisher feeds, while the larger mill will produce starter and breeder feeds. The company also plans to add crumbler rolls to the SZLH508 line to produce crumbled feed for very young poults (0-10 days).

Across Spain and Southern Europe, a feed pellet machine for turkey nutrition system is a critical investment for commercial turkey producers seeking to optimize growth performance, feed efficiency, and meat quality.

The ability to produce phase-specific pellet sizes—from 3.5mm starter to 8.0mm finisher—gives producers control over every stage of turkey development. RICHI Machinery—with our factory in Jiaozuo, Henan Province, and our shipping from Qingdao—is proud to support the large-scale turkey industry across Europe and beyond.

For more information or to discuss your specific turkey nutrition requirements—whether starter, grower, developer, or finisher feeds—contact RICHI Machinery today.

A RICHI SZLH series feed pellet mill can help you produce high-durability, phase-appropriate pellets that improve turkey growth performance, reduce feed waste, and increase your profitability. RICHI—your partner in sustainable turkey nutrition.