Grass Pellet Machine

The diverse applications of grass pellet machines give them broad market prospects in the fields of global agriculture, energy and environmental protection. Different countries choose the most suitable processing methods and raw material combinations based on their own resource endowments and industrial needs to achieve the dual goals of economic benefits and sustainable development.

Animal Feed Production

Grass pellets are high-quality animal feed, especially suitable for ruminants (cattle, sheep, deer, etc.), horses, poultry and rabbits. Different countries produce different types of grass pellets based on local grass species and feed needs:

(1) Forage Pellets

Raw materials: Alfalfa, Ryegrass, Timothy, Clover, Sudangrass, Bermudagrass, etc.

Application:

• Dairy cow feed (Alfalfa pellets are widely used in major dairy countries such as the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany).
• Beef cattle and sheep feed (livestock-producing countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina).
• Horse feed (regions with developed horse racing industries such as France and Ireland).
• Added auxiliary materials: corn meal, soybean meal, wheat bran, molasses (to improve palatability and nutrition).

(2) Mixed Feed Pellets

Raw materials: grass meal + grains (corn, barley, wheat) + protein source (soybean meal, rapeseed meal).

Applications:

• Poultry feed (such as chickens, ducks, and geese, usually mixed with grains to increase energy).
• Pig feed (countries such as Denmark and Canada use grass pellets as fiber supplements).

Fuel Industry (Biomass Fuel Production)

Grass pellets can be used as biomass fuel for home heating, industrial boilers, and power plants, replacing coal or natural gas and reducing carbon emissions.

(1) Pure Grass Pellets

Raw materials: Miscanthus, Switchgrass, Reed Canary Grass, Straw.

Applications:

• Used in regional heating and home fireplaces in Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, etc.).
• Used in small biomass power plants in Pakistan, Russia, etc.

(2) Mixed Biomass Pellets

Raw materials: Grass + wood chips/sawdust/nutshells (to improve combustion efficiency).

Applications:

• Industrial boilers (some factories in Poland and the United States use mixed pellets to reduce fuel costs).
• Combined heat and power (CHP) (Nordic countries such as Denmark and Sweden).

Organic Fertilizer Production

Grass pellets can be processed into slow-release organic fertilizers, suitable for organic agriculture and gardening.

(1) Grass-Based Fertilizer

Raw materials: mowed grass, weeds, green manure crops (such as astragalus).

Applications:

• Organic farms (used for vegetable and fruit cultivation in the United States, Italy, etc.).
• Greenhouse cultivation (areas with developed facility agriculture such as the Netherlands and Spain).

(2) Mixed Organic Fertilizer

Raw materials: grass + animal manure (cow manure, horse manure) + humic acid.

Applications:

• Orchards and vineyards (wine producing regions such as France and Chile).
• Ecological agriculture (markets with high demand for organic fertilizers such as Japan and South Korea).

Other special uses

(1) Bedding Pellets

Raw materials: hay, straw.

Applications: stables, pet bedding (the United States, the United Kingdom, etc.).

(2) Mushroom Substrate

Raw materials: grass + sawdust + wheat bran.

Application: China, the Netherlands and other major mushroom producing countries.

(3) Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Restoration (Erosion Control)

Raw materials: drought-resistant grass seeds (such as Pennisetum).

Application: used for sand fixation in arid areas such as Africa and the Middle East.

The grass pellet machine can process a wide range of grass raw materials, mainly including the following categories:

• High-quality forage grass:
  mainly including nutritious forage grass varieties such as alfalfa, ryegrass, timothy grass, and clover. This type of grass has a high protein content and excellent fiber structure. It is the preferred raw material for making high-quality livestock feed pellets, especially suitable for livestock such as dairy cows, beef cattle, and racehorses that have high feed requirements.
• Gramineae grass:
  covers common Gramineae forage grasses such as Bermuda grass, Sudan grass, Duckgrass, and Poa annua. This type of grass has strong adaptability and stable yield. After pelleting, it can significantly improve palatability and storage stability, and is an important source of conventional feed for pastures.
• Crop by-products:
  including the stems and leaves of crops such as wheat straw, rice straw, and corn straw after harvest. Although these raw materials have low nutritional value, they can be used as basic feed or biomass fuel raw materials for ruminants after scientific proportioning and pelleting, realizing efficient utilization of agricultural waste.
• Energy grasses:
  such as high-yield energy plants such as switchgrass, Miscanthus sinensis, and elephant grass. These grasses have the characteristics of fast growth, large biomass, and high lignin content, and are particularly suitable for processing into high-calorific value fuel pellets for biomass power generation or heating fuel.
• Special grasses:
  including grasses with special uses such as Pennisetum and reed. These grasses can be processed into pellet products for different purposes according to their characteristics, such as sand-fixing pellets for ecological restoration, matrix pellets for gardening, etc.
• Wild weeds:
  such as common field weeds such as thatch and barnyard grass. Through pelleting processing, these potential ecological threats can be converted into valuable pellet products, which not only solves the problem of weed control, but also creates economic value.

Various types of grass usually need to be properly pretreated according to their characteristics before pelleting. For example, high-moisture grass needs to be dried first, high-fiber grass may need to add adhesives, and different grass species can also be mixed in specific proportions to achieve ideal pelleting effects and product performance.

The design of modern grass pellet machines fully considers the diversity of raw materials. By adjusting the mold parameters, processing temperature and other process conditions, it can efficiently process a variety of grass raw materials from soft forage to hard straw.

There are significant differences in the pretreatment and crushing process of grass materials of different forms. The specific comparison is as follows:

Bale material processing

(1) Pretreatment process

• Bale breaking and loosening: The dense bales must be loosened by the bale breaker first, with a processing capacity of 5-10 tons/hour
• Impurity classification: A combination of drum screen + magnetic separator is used to remove impurities such as soil blocks and metals (impurity rate must be <3%)
• Pre-crushing: For bales with a compression density of >180kg/m³, they must be initially crushed to 100-150mm with a coarse crusher

(2) Crushing equipment selection

Recommended equipment:

• Heavy hammer mill (power 55-160kW)
• Equipped with hydraulic feeding system (anti-blocking)

Key parameters:

• Screen aperture 8-12mm (first crushing)
• Rotor speed 1400-1800rpm
• Processing capacity 3-8 tons/hour (when moisture content ≤18%)

Long grass (>1m) processing

(1) Pre-treatment process

• Cutting pretreatment: First cut the grass to 30-50cm by forage chopper
• Drying control: Dry in the field to a moisture content of 25-35% (too high will easily clog the equipment)
• Fiber softening: For grass species with lignin content >18% (such as Miscanthus), steam explosion pretreatment is required (0.8-1.2MPa, 2-3 minutes)

(2) Crushing equipment selection

Recommended equipment:

• Double-shaft shredder (pre-crushing) + fine crusher combination
• Straw-specific crusher with anti-winding device

Key parameters:

• Final particle size 3-5mm (feed grade) or 5-8mm (fuel grade)
• Equipped with anti-clogging sensor
• Energy consumption is 20-30% higher than that of bale processing

Grass powder raw material processing

(1) Pre-treatment process

• Water balance: adjust the moisture content of grass powder to 12-15% (too high will cause sticking to the cavity)
• Powder removal: break up the lumps with a de-aerator
• Particle size classification: first pass through a 10-mesh sieve to remove oversized particles

(2) Selection of crushing equipment

Recommended equipment:

• Vertical ultrafine pulverizer (for feed additives)
• Horizontal mixer-pulverizer (for formula feed)

Key parameters:

• 80-120 mesh fine crushing (special feed)
• Equipped with pulse dust removal system (dust recovery rate > 98%)
• Temperature control < 45℃ (retain heat-sensitive nutrients)

Operation suggestions

• For high-fiber raw materials (such as straw), it is recommended to use the "secondary crushing" process
• When the moisture content is > 30%, it needs to be dried to less than 20% before crushing
• The hammer/knife wear needs to be checked every 200 hours of processing (wear > 3mm needs to be replaced)

The optimized treatment of raw materials in different forms can improve the final particle quality by 10-15%. It is recommended to customize the pre-treatment plan according to the characteristics of the raw materials.

Processing grass pellets has important economic value and ecological significance, which is mainly reflected in the following six core advantages:

Efficient utilization of resources

• Convert low-value agricultural waste (straw, weeds, etc.) into high-value-added products, and increase the utilization rate of raw materials to more than 95%
• The economic value of 1 ton of alfalfa pellets is 2-3 times higher than that of the original grass

Storage and transportation revolution

• The volume is compressed to 1/4 of the raw material, reducing the demand for storage space
• The moisture content is controlled below 12%, and the shelf life is extended to 12-18 months (loose grass is only 3-6 months)
• Suitable for long-distance transportation (not easy to mold, loss rate <5%)

Nutrition and energy efficiency upgrade

1. Feed field:

High temperature pressing increases starch gelatinization by 40%, and livestock digestion and absorption rate by 15-20%

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients can be accurately added

2. Fuel field:

Heat value increased to 3500-4500kcal/kg (original grass only 2000-2500kcal/kg)

Combustion efficiency of more than 80% (loose grass combustion efficiency less than 50%)

Dual environmental benefits

• Reduce straw burning pollution: 1 5T/H production line digests 30,000 tons of straw per year, equivalent to reducing CO₂ emissions by 50,000 tons
• Replace fossil fuels: Each ton of grass pellet fuel can replace 0.6 tons of standard coal

Significant economic benefits

• Short investment payback period (1.5-2 years)
• Feed pellets cost 20-30% less than traditional feed
• Fuel pellets are 15-25% cheaper than coal (after considering subsidies)

Policy dividend support

Subsidies are provided by 30+ countries around the world:

• EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) subsidizes grass pellet production
• China's straw comprehensive utilization project equipment purchase subsidy of 30-50%
• Many countries in Southeast Asia reduce taxes on biomass enterprises

As the global carbon neutrality process accelerates, grass pellet processing is changing from an "optional project" to a "necessary investment". This technology perfectly fits the concept of circular economy, can create direct economic benefits, and can fulfill environmental responsibilities, and is a key to the transformation of agricultural modernization.

The economic benefits of different grass pellet products are affected by multiple factors such as raw material costs, market demand and policy support. The comprehensive comparative analysis is as follows:

1. Grass feed pellets (best comprehensive benefits)

Profit margin: 25-40% (high-end livestock feed can reach 50%+)

Core advantages:

• Stable demand: global livestock industry grows 3.5% annually, and high-quality feed continues to be in short supply
• Premium space: the international price of alfalfa pellets is $300-500/ton (2-3 times the value of raw materials)
• Policy support: EU, China and other countries provide subsidies for ecological feed production
• Return on investment: 1-1.5 years (dairy farms can shorten to 8 months for self-production and self-use)

2. Grass fuel pellets (policy-dependent)

Profit margin: 15-25% (affected by large fluctuations in energy prices)

Core advantages:

• Scale effect: stable orders from large power plants (annual demand of 10,000 tons)
• Carbon trading income: $10-20 carbon subsidies per ton of pellets (EU market)
• Risk warning: need to rely on the sustainability of government subsidy policies

3. Grass fertilizer pellets (long-term benefits)

Profit margin: 20-30%

Core advantages:

• Organic agriculture expansion: Global organic fertilizer market grows 8.7% annually
• Low-cost advantage: Cheap raw materials such as polluted weeds/sludge can be used
• Limitations: Long sales channel construction cycle

4. Grass bedding pellets (segmented market opportunities)

Profit margin: 30-50% (pet/equestrian market)

Core advantages:

• High added value: Pet bedding pellets are priced at $800-1200/ton
• Flexible raw materials: Low-quality grass + straw can be mixed
• Challenges: Brand building and market education are required

Selection suggestions

• Short-term quick returns: Choose feed pellets (connect with local ranches)
• Policy dividend area: Prioritize fuel pellets (need to confirm local subsidies)
• High-end market: Develop pet bedding pellets (need supporting marketing)
• Circular economy: Fertilizer pellets (suitable for supporting own farms)

Note: The actual benefits need to be calculated based on specific conditions, for example:

• Raw material cost: self-produced grass vs. Outsourcing
• Transportation radius: Feed pellet sales radius is recommended to be less than 200km
• Equipment adaptability: The same production line can flexibly switch to produce 2-3 types of pellets

The grass pellet machine price is generally between 10,000-90,000 USD.

For some merchants who apply industrial equipment products, the price is always a topic of concern. With the widespread application of grass pellet machines in the market, there are many changes in their selling prices. So what factors generally exist in the market that can affect the price of grass pellet equipment?

1. Product model: Different models of grass pellet machines have different values ​​whether they are used or sold, and their price changes are still closely related to the demand for equipment.
2. The quality of the wire inserter: I believe everyone knows that the quality of the equipment is always positively correlated with the price. The so-called one cent one cent, one cent, still has corresponding reason. Relatively speaking, the equipment with better quality will naturally be higher in price.
3. The manufacturing cost of the manufacturer: Many manufacturers sell grass pellet machines after purchasing the accessories used in the equipment and then assemble them accordingly, and then sell them. Therefore, there will naturally be corresponding differences in price from other manufacturers.
4. Transportation cost: Some manufacturers sell not only in their local area. For these relatively far-flung stores, there are corresponding transportation costs when transporting, so the manufacturers will also take their costs into consideration during transportation.
5. Brand influence: With the development of technology, many customers believe in the influence of brands. Under this premise, even if the quality, model and price of grass pellet machines are relatively the same, many merchants will choose manufacturers with better brands and influence.

There are still many factors that can affect the price of grass pellet machines in our daily lives. The above are just a few of the more common ones. However, although the price of grass pellet machines is relatively important, the quality of the equipment cannot be ignored. Only after ensuring the quality of the equipment can it be well operated and used.

Below we briefly show you 10t/h grass pellet mill plant project we have done, hoping to help you further understand the grass pellets processing equipment.

Richi Machinery can offer services for the management of a single grass pelletizer machine, a single grass pelleting line or the whole grass pellet manufacturing process, depending on the needs. Complete grass pellet production lines used for pelletizing various grass pellets (including Pelletizing, Grinding, Screening, Cleaning, Conveying , Cooling and Packaging Machines) that we produce for Global Markets.

Below is an example of a 2-3t/h grass pelletizing system configuration we have made:

As for the grass pellet mill plant design, we always make the longest plan. It can be said that every pellet production plant program from RICHI is multi-functional, not limited to the current raw materials and products that customers want to process. Of course, this is added value, under the premise of protecting the existing needs of customers.

Kindly advise the following questions so that we can supply you with the proper proposal of grass pellet machine.

• What kind of grass pellets are you going to produce? (grass types and uses of final products)
• What is your required capacity per hour?
• Do you only need the single grass pelletizing machine or one complete grass pellet production line which includes all kinds of machiney?
• If it is to make grass feed pellets, what proportion of the grass is in the raw materials?
• What is the moisture content of your grass material? Do you need supporting drying equipment?
• Your other requirement if any.

Since above information will make the grass pellet mill price quite different, we are looking forward to hearing from you.

Anything unclear pls don't hesitate to write to Richi Machinery. If you want to start a new complete grass pellet production line or turnkey grass pellet plant project, then the following content is very suitable for you.

1. First, use a rotary cutter to finely crush the straw to ensure that its size is less than 8mm to prepare for the subsequent processing. The purpose of this step is to crush the straw so that it can be better processed in the next step.
2. Next, these crushed materials are sent to the drum dryer for drying. This step is to remove excess moisture from the material and ensure that its moisture content meets the requirements of subsequent pelleting.
3. The dried material is sent to the silo and then enters the grass pellet machine through the spiral dragon for pelleting. The pelletizing process is to compress the material into pellets for easy storage and transportation. This link is a key step in the entire process, and the size and quality of the pellets need to be precisely controlled.
4. After pelleting by grass pellet making machine, the high-temperature pellets are sent to the cooler for cooling using a conveyor belt. This step is to quickly cool the high-temperature pellets to prevent them from sticking together, and it also helps to improve the hardness and wear resistance of the grass pellets.
5. Finally, the cooled pellets enter the packaging machine for packaging for easy sales and transportation. The packaging process needs to be customized according to demand to ensure that the product meets market requirements.

Throughout the process, we focus on the continuity and stability of each link to ensure that the quality and output of the final product are optimal. In addition, we also improve production efficiency and reduce costs through continuous technological innovation and improvement to provide customers with better services.

Process advantages:

The advantages of this process are its wide range of raw material applications, good pellet forming effect and strong government support.

• First, due to the rich biomass resources of grass and straw, local materials can be used to reduce production costs.
• Secondly, this process uses advanced pelletizing technology and equipment to ensure good pellet forming effect and good market prospects.
• Finally, the government's support for the biomass energy industry has been continuously increasing, providing a strong guarantee for the development of the industry.

When adopting this process, customers need to make comprehensive considerations based on actual conditions and formulate reasonable production plans to achieve the dual goals of economic and environmental benefits.

01 Harm and utilization of weeds

In rural areas, weeds are a common problem. The long-term existence of a large number of weeds not only affects the soil of farmland, but also threatens the growth of crops, seriously affecting the development of agriculture. Therefore, how to deal with the weed problem has become an urgent problem to be solved.

At the same time, weeds are also a potential resource. Using scientific and reasonable methods to utilize weeds can create many new values. For example, some experts believe that deep processing of weeds into pellets can be used as animal feed or feed mainly based on feed, which brings convenience to the breeding industry.

At the same time, these weed pellets can also be used to produce energy, such as fuel, diesel, etc., which is a very promising direction.

02 Deep processing of rural weed pellets

In order to convert weeds into usable resources, deep processing is required. The deep processing process of weeds mainly includes the following steps:

• Shearing: Cut the weeds into small segments for subsequent processing.
• Grinding: Grind the weed segments into grass pellets.
• Compression: Screen the grass pellets and compress them through a grass pellet machine to reach a certain density.

Through such deep processing, weeds can be converted into a useful grass pellets.

03 Application of rural weed pellets

The deep processing of rural weed pellets can be applied to many fields, especially in agriculture.

• Animal feed: Using rural weed pellets as animal feed can not only reduce feed costs, but also increase the growth rate and meat quality of animals.
• Fuel: Rural weed pellets can also be used as fuel, and can generate electricity or provide heating through combustion.
• Fertilizer: Weed pellets are rich in various nutrients and can be used as raw materials for the production of organic fertilizers.

With people's attention to natural resources and the enhancement of awareness of environmental protection, using rural weeds to create new industries is not only an environmentally friendly way, but also a sustainable development direction.

By strengthening the deep processing of rural weeds, weeds can be converted into useful grass pellets and applied in animal feed, energy production and other fields. In this way, it can not only solve environmental problems such as rural weeds, but also create new industries and promote local economic development.

1. The growth and utilization of forage grass are greatly affected by seasons. In winter, forage grass is withered and yellow, containing few nutrients, and livestock lacks grass to eat; in warm season, forage grass grows vigorously and is rich in nutrients, so livestock cannot eat it. Therefore, in order to make full use of the warm season forage to maximize its strengths and avoid its weaknesses, it is cut, sun-dried, crushed, and processed into grass pellets and stored, so that it can be fed to livestock and poultry in winter.
2. High feed conversion rate. Feed sheep and goat feed pellets with grass pellets in winter, and you can get more meat, eggs, and milk with less forage.
3. Small size. Grass pellet feed is only about 1/4 of the volume of its raw material hay, which is easy to store and transport. It has less dust and is beneficial to human and animal health. It is convenient to feed and can simplify feeding procedures and create conditions for intensive and mechanized animal husbandry production.
4. Increase palatability and improve forage quality. For example, the sweet-scented osmanthus has a special smell of coumarin, which is somewhat disliked by livestock. However, after being made into grass pellets, it becomes a forage with strong palatability and high nutritional value.
5. Expand feed sources. For example, many grass raw materials have thick and hard branches, which are crushed and processed into grass pellets, which become forage that livestock like to eat. Others, such as by-products of crops, husks, straws and various leaves, can be processed into grass pellets and used to feed livestock and poultry.

Choosing a suitable grass pellet machine requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors such as raw material characteristics, production needs and investment budget. The following are key selection points to help you make an informed decision:

Making raw material characteristics match

• Soft forage grass (alfalfa/ryegrass): choose medium-low pressure pellet machine (compression ratio 1:6-1:8)
• Hard straw (corn/wheat straw): high-pressure model (compression ratio 1:8-1:10) is required
• Mixed raw materials: multi-functional model equipped with a powerful conditioning system

Capacity demand assessment

• Small farms/startups: 0.5-1 ton grass pellet machine
• Medium-sized processing plants: 2-5 ton grass pellet machine
• Large grass pellet production lines: automated units with an output of more than 10 tons per hour

Core configuration considerations

• Key components: alloy steel ring die (life 500+ hours) and tungsten carbide rollers are preferred
• Power system: electric drive (stable) vs diesel Drive (no power grid area)
• Automation level: PLC control system can improve efficiency by 30%

Energy efficiency and maintenance

• Unit energy consumption: high-quality equipment consumes ≤50kWh per ton
• Dust removal design: pulse dust collector can reduce dust pollution
• Lubrication system: automatic lubrication can reduce maintenance frequency

Manufacturer service capabilities

• Case experience: choose suppliers with successful cases of similar raw materials
• Accessories supply: ensure localized spare parts inventory
• Technical support: provide installation and commissioning + process training services

Certification and standards

• International certification: CE (EU), ISO9001, etc.
• Environmental protection indicators: noise <75 decibels, dust emissions meet standards
• Safety protection: overload protection, emergency brake device

Recommended process

1. Take samples to test raw material characteristics (fiber content/moisture, etc.)
2. Clarify product positioning (feed/fuel/fertilizer)
3. Calculate investment return cycle (recommended <2 years)
4. On-site inspection of equipment manufacturer's production base
5. Require trial run with materials to verify the effect

The investment return of high-quality grass pellet machines is usually reflected in:

• Molding rate > 95%
• Equipment utilization rate > 85%
• Reduced processing cost per ton by 20-30%

We provide free raw material testing and solution design services, and can recommend the most suitable model according to your specific situation to help you achieve efficient and stable grass pellet production.

Selecting a grass pellet machine manufacturer is a key step in ensuring a successful investment. The following is a professional selection guide:

Manufacturer qualification verification

• Check basic qualifications such as business licenses and production licenses
• Confirm whether it has international quality management certifications such as ISO9001
• Verify patent technology holdings (especially core components such as ring dies and rollers)

R&D and production capabilities

• On-site inspection of the scale of the production base (it is recommended to choose a self-owned factory > OEM model)
• Pay attention to laboratory configuration (raw material testing, process test equipment)
• Understand the annual R&D investment ratio (high-quality manufacturers usually > 5% revenue)

Industry experience evaluation

Key inspections:

• Same type of raw material processing cases (video/on-site visit required)
• Equipment operation records under similar climatic conditions
• Whether it has participated in the formulation of industry standards

Technical service system

• After-sales response: whether to provide 24-hour technical support
• Accessories supply: inventory of key spare parts (ring dies, rollers)
• Training program: whether it includes system courses such as process debugging and daily maintenance

Cost-effectiveness analysis

• Compare at least 3 quotations (note that hidden fees are included)
• Calculate the comprehensive cost of use for 5 years (including energy consumption, maintenance, and accessories)
• Evaluate the flexibility of payment methods (it is recommended to keep 30% for payment after machine inspection)

Successful customer testimony

Require the grass pellet manufacturer to provide:

• List of customers in the past 3 years (prioritize customers in the same region)
• Equipment operation data report (such as continuous production time, failure rate)
• Recommendation letter or evaluation from old customers

Avoidance guide

Beware of the following situations:

• Manufacturers that refuse to test raw materials
• Trading companies" that cannot provide on-site visits
• Exaggerated propaganda that promises "all-adaptable universal models

Suggested selection process

• Preliminary selection of 5-8 qualified manufacturers
• Conduct technical communication through video conference
• On-site inspection of 2-3 candidate manufacturers
• Bring raw materials for machine inspection verification
• Sign after comparing the terms of service

Features of high-quality manufacturers

• Provide more than 1 year warranty for core components
• Have overseas project experience (strong equipment adaptability)
• Able to issue raw material compatibility analysis report

We recommend giving priority to professional manufacturers who have been focusing on the grass pellet field for more than 10 years. Such grass pellet machine manufacturers usually have more mature process databases and equipment stability. If you need a specific manufacturer recommendation list, you can provide your raw material samples and production capacity requirements, and we will select the most matching supplier for you.