Key Steps in Fish Feed Production:

• Grinding: Raw ingredients are finely ground to achieve a uniform particle size, enhancing digestibility and ensuring a consistent mixture.
• Mixing: The ground ingredients are thoroughly mixed to create a homogenous blend, ensuring each pellet contains the necessary nutrients in the correct proportions.
• Conditioning: The mixed feed is conditioned by adding steam or water, which helps in binding the ingredients and preparing the mixture for extrusion or pelleting.
• Extrusion/Pelleting: The conditioned feed is processed through an extruder or pellet mill, where it is shaped into pellets. Extrusion can produce floating, sinking, or slow-sinking pellets, depending on the feeding habits of the target fish species.
• Drying and Cooling: The freshly formed pellets are dried to reduce moisture content, preventing spoilage, and then cooled to maintain their structural integrity.
• Coating: Oils or heat-sensitive vitamins may be added post-extrusion to preserve their nutritional value, enhancing the energy content and palatability of the feed.
• Packaging and Storage: The finished feed is packaged and stored under appropriate conditions to maintain its quality until it reaches the end-user.