The use of microcontrollers to determine feed mixture homogeneity

The results on the determination of the homogeneity of the mixture obtained by a physical method using microtracers (colored iron particles) are presented. Microtracers are external indicators that are used to determine the mixing accuracy and contamination level in premixes and compound feeds. They are iron particles of the same size, coated with non-toxic, food-grade paint. Microtracers are stable to production conditions (humidity, temperature, pressure) and do not adversely affect the organoleptic properties and nutritional value of the feed. The purpose of the work was to assess the level of homogeneity of feed mixtures for aquaculture facilities using ferromagnetic microtracers. Experimental studies were carried out on the technological mixing line of an industrial feed mill in the Astrakhan region. The granulated systems used were feed mixtures with different mass ratios of individual components differing in diameter and bulk density. A series of tests to develop high-quality mixing parameters and evaluate the technical characteristics of the mixer on the feed production line for mixing accuracy of 1:100000 were conducted. Microtracers F – red (the number of particles per 1 gram was 34,000) were added through the installation of manual input of micro components directly into the hopper above the mixer during the production of trout feed 41/26 (VE) 6 mm. The batch size was 800 kg. Using microtracers, the uniformity in the feed mixture and the finished feed was determined. It was found that in test 1 the Gauss uniformity criterion is at least 92% and no more than 95% (mixing time 60 seconds), in test 2 and 3 above 95% (mixing time 90 and 120 seconds). The testing has proved that the homogeneity values of the feed mixture and the extruded compound feed are in the same range. The selection site has no effect on homogeneity.

1. Achkevych О., Bratishko V., Petrenko D., Slipukha T. Justification parameters mixer drum feed additives. Еngineering for rural development, 2022, pp. 793–798. DOI: 10.22616/ERDev.2022.21.TF240.

2. Lebedev A., Salaev B., Bolaev B., Arylov J., Lebedev P., Rybalkin N. Intensification of the process of mixing feed mixtures. Science in the central Russia, 2022, no. 5, pp. 50–59. DOI: 10.35887/2305-2538-2022-6-50-59.

3. Okonkwo C., Moses O., Alhassan E.A., Ogbevire M., Samuel A., Ajao F., Tajudeen O. Design and fabrication of a fish feed mixing cum pelleting machine for small-medium scale aquaculture industry. Open Agriculture, 2023, no. 8. DOI: 10.1515/opag-2022-0124.

4. Avakimyants E.V. Determination of the PMV mixer’s technological volume. Tekhnika i tekhnologii v zhivotnovodstve = Machinery and technologies in livestock, 2021, no. 3 (43), pp. 62–65. (In Russian). DOI: 10.51794/27132064-2021-3-62.

5. Poel A., Abdollahi M.R., Cheng H., Colovic R., den Hartog L.A., Miladinovic D., Page G., Sijssens K., Smillie J.F., Thomas M., Wang W., Yu P., Hendriks W.H. Future directions of animal feed technology research to meet the challenges of a changing world. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2020, vol. 270. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114692.

6. Sarker P.K. Microorganisms in Fish Feeds, Technological Innovations, and Key Strategies for Sustainable Aquaculture. Microorganisms, 2023, no. 11 (2), p. 439. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020439.

7. Afreen M., Ucak I. Fish processing wastes used as feed ingredient for animal feed and aquaculture feed. Journal of Survey in Fisheries Sciences, 2020, рр. 55–64. DOI: 10.17762/sfs.v6i2.198.

8. Pooja Bhalode, Marianthi Ierapetritou. A review of existing mixing indices in solid-based continuous blending operations. Powder Technology, 2020, vol. 373, рр. 195–209. DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2020.06.043.

9. Rubio A.A., Conrad S., Juzaitis-Boelter C., Wishon C.R., Fahrenholz A.C. The impact of marker selection, in-line near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), and feed mix time on the coefficient of variation (mix uniformity), body weight uniformity and broiler growth performance during the starter, grower, and finisher periods. Mix time and broiler performance, 2023, vol. 12, pp. 1–12. DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103109.

10. Syrovatkina V.I., Zhdanova N.V., Obukhov A.D. The physical basis for therapeutic, vitamin and mineral premixes’ homogeneous mixtures producing. Vestnik vserossiiskogo nauchno-issledovatel'skogo instituta mekhanizatsii zhivotnovodstva = Journal of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Animal Husbandry Mechanization, 2019, no. 4 (36), pp. 12–19. (In Russian).

11. Obukhov A. Improvement of methods and technical means of medical combined feeds and working premixes preparation. Tekhnika i tekhnologii v zhivotnovodstve = Machinery and technologies in livestock, 2021, no. 1 (41), рр. 59–65. (In Russian). DOI: 10.51794/27132064-2021-1-59.

12. Mironova I.V., Latypova E.Kh., Nikitin E.A., Blagov D.A. Systems and methods for assessing the homogeneity of feed mixtures for farm animals. Agrarnaya nauka = Agrarian science, 2024, no. 382 (5), рр. 56–62. (In Russian). DOI: 10.32634/0869-8155-2024-382-5-56-62.

13. Sakhno T., Semenov А., Barashkov N. Assessing the quality of homogeneity of pet food using ferromagnetic microtracers. Grain Products and Mixed Fodder’s, 2020, no. 20, рр. 32–37. DOI: 10.15673/gpmf.v20i2.1763.