This is a project regarding a tapioca pellet machine in Brazil. A large integrated feedlot in Goiás state, Brazil, was feeding 50,000 beef cattle, 20,000 pigs, and 500,000 broilers annually. Brazil is a major cassava producer, and the farm grew cassava on 2,000 hectares of company land. The farm owner wanted to use tapioca (cassava) as the primary energy source across all species.
This is a project regarding a tapioca pellet machine in Brazil. A large integrated feedlot in Goiás state, Brazil, was feeding 50,000 beef cattle, 20,000 pigs, and 500,000 broilers annually. Brazil is a major cassava producer, and the farm grew cassava on 2,000 hectares of company land. The farm owner wanted to use tapioca (cassava) as the primary energy source across all species.
The challenge was that each species requires different pellet sizes: 4-5mm for broilers, 5-6mm for pigs, and 8-10mm for cattle. The farm needed a versatile tapioca pellet machine that could produce multiple pellet sizes with quick die changes. They invested in a medium-capacity pellet mill.
The feedlot manager explained the situation: "We grow cassava. It's cheap. But we need different pellet sizes for different animals. Broilers need 4mm. Pigs need 5.5mm. Cattle need 8mm. We needed a pellet mill that could switch sizes quickly."
The feedlot had an existing feed mill with a hammer mill, mixer, and a small pellet mill. They decided to upgrade to a larger, more versatile machine.
Name:
cassava pellet machine
Country:
Brazil
Date:
2025
Capacity:
5-6 tons/hour
Model:
SZLH350
Main Motor Power:
55kW
Raw Materials:
Tapioca meal, Soybean meal, Corn
Pellet diameter:
4mm, 5.5mm, 8mm
From the pellet mill table, the SZLH350 (55kW) was selected. Why this model?
The feedlot manager chose the SZLH350 for its quick die change capability and medium capacity.
Brazil is a major cassava producer. The feedlot uses:
Tapioca meal specifications:
| Species | Pellet Size | Die Type | Production % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broilers | 4mm | Standard | 40% |
| Pigs | 5.5mm | Standard | 35% |
| Beef cattle | 8mm | Standard | 25% |
Target protein:
The SZLH350 tapioca pellet machine arrived at the Port of Santos – Brazil's largest port.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Santos is about 35-40 days. The machine was packed in a 40-foot container with:
Customs clearance in Santos took about 7 days. Total landed cost was about 25% higher than the FOB price.
Installation took three weeks. The old pellet mill was moved to a backup location. The new SZLH350 was positioned on a reinforced concrete foundation (200mm thick). The electrical hookup required 380V, 60Hz three-phase (Brazil uses 60Hz). RICHI provided a 60Hz-compatible motor. The 55kW motor required a 150-amp breaker.
The first test run was with broiler formula (4mm die). The conditioner added steam to reach 75°C, 17% moisture. The pellet mill ran smoothly at 5.2 tons/hour. Pellet durability (PDI) was 93%.
The second test run was with pig formula (5.5mm die). Die change took 30 minutes. The mill ran at 5.5 tons/hour with 94% PDI.
The third test run was with cattle formula (8mm die). Die change took 30 minutes. The mill ran at 5.8 tons/hour with 92% PDI.
After six months of operation, the feedlot manager documented the following results:
Before (old small pellet mill):
After (SZLH350 with quick die change):
Production output by species:
| Species | Daily Production (8 hours) | Monthly Production |
|---|---|---|
| Broilers | 20 tons | 500 tons |
| Pigs | 18 tons | 450 tons |
| Cattle | 12 tons | 300 tons |
| Total | 50 tons | 1,250 tons |
Economic impact:
Here's what the feedlot manager said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation, translated from Portuguese):
"We have three species – broilers, pigs, cattle. Each needs different pellet sizes. Our old machine took 3 hours to change dies. We were losing half a shift every changeover.
The SZLH350 changed that. The quick die change system takes 30 minutes. We run broiler pellets in the morning, pig pellets after lunch, and cattle pellets in the afternoon. Same machine, three products.
The conditioner at 75°C gelatinizes the tapioca starch. The pellets hold together well – 93% PDI. No fines, no waste.
Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any integrated operation with multiple species, this is the machine."
Multi-species feed production requires frequent die changes:
The SZLH350 tapioca pellet machine's quick die change system reduces downtime from 3 hours to 30 minutes – saving 2.5 hours per changeover. With 2 changeovers per day, that's 5 hours saved daily.
Tapioca starch gelatinizes at 65-70°C, lower than corn. The conditioner at 75°C fully gelatinizes the starch, creating natural binding for all pellet sizes:
No artificial binders needed.
The feedlot adjusts formulations for each species:
Broilers (4mm pellets, 22% protein):
Pigs (5.5mm pellets, 18% protein):
Cattle (8mm pellets, 15% protein):
The feedlot grows cassava on 2,000 hectares:
The tapioca is processed on-site: drying, milling, and pelleting.
| Species | Before (corn-based) | After (tapioca-based) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broilers | 1.70 | 1.68 | +0.02 |
| Pigs | 2.80 | 2.75 | +0.05 |
| Cattle | 7.5 | 7.3 | +0.2 |
The SZLH350 tapioca pellet machine shipped from Qingdao to Port of Santos, Brazil.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Santos is about 35-40 days. The route goes across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal, and down the Atlantic coast of South America.
The machine was packed in a 40-foot container. Customs clearance in Santos took about 7 days. Total landed cost was about 25% higher than the FOB price.
The truck transport from Santos to Goiás was about 1,000km – roughly 15 hours.
After six months of running the SZLH350, the feedlot manager shared several observations:
RICHI provided several services that helped the feedlot manager get the SZLH350 operational:
For an integrated feedlot producing feed for multiple species, a pellet mill with quick die change is essential.
Consider the SZLH350 if:
Consider a larger model (SZLH420) if:
For the Brazilian feedlot, the SZLH350 was the right investment. It produced 4mm, 5.5mm, and 8mm pellets for broilers, pigs, and cattle, reduced feed costs by 25-30%, and paid for itself in three months.
If you're an integrated feedlot producing feed for multiple species, don't buy separate pellet mills for each species. Buy one versatile machine with quick die change. Tapioca is a low-cost energy source that works for all species when properly pelletized.
The SZLH350 tapioca pellet machine produces 5.5 tons per hour of durable pellets. The quick die change system allows 30-minute changeovers between 4mm (broilers), 5.5mm (pigs), and 8mm (cattle) dies. The conditioner gelatinizes tapioca starch for natural binding. The result is cost-effective, high-quality feed for all your animals.
For integrated feedlots, the math is simple: one machine + quick die changes + farm-grown tapioca = lower costs + higher efficiency + faster payback.
RICHI offers documentation in Portuguese, 60Hz motors, quick die change training, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your species mix, capacity requirements, and cassava availability for a recommendation. Tell them about your integrated operation – they can help you select the right tapioca pellet machine for multi-species feed production.
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