Journal of Agriculture and Life Sciences Vol. 5, No. 1, June 2018 doi:10.30845/jals.v5n1p2 10 Technical Evaluation of a Roll-Type Extrusion Pellet Mill for Animal Feed Production Aries Roda D. Romallosa BSAE, PAE, MEng, PhD Full Professor Central Philippine University Philippines Jaime C. Cabarles, Jr. BSA, MS, PhD Full Professor Central Philippine University Philippines Abstract The study dealt with the design and technical evaluation of a pellet mill developed in the Philippines that utilizes the roll-type extrusion method of producing powder materials of different mixtures into pelleted feeds and driven by a 2 Hp electric motor. It is comprised of a feed hopper, pelleting chamber, pellet roll, die plate, discharge chute and frame. As the pellet rolls rotated, force is also applied creating rearrangement of the particles in order to fill the voids or holes of the die plate. The machine can produce 1.272±0.009 kg/min or about 76.32±0.54 kg/hr of pelletized feeds. It is an efficient, portable and user-friendly machine that can convert a kilo of mash feeds by 97.87±0.596%. The pellets produced have a 4-mm diameter with a length and weight of 10.667±0.667 mm and 0.138±0.005 g, respectively, while the moisture content after sundrying was 25.467±9.744% and the total solids was 74.533±9.744%. In addition, the pellets produced had a bulk density of 0.510±0.015 g/cc, pellet durability index of 95.77±0.596% and a percent fine of 1.8±0.115. Keywords: pellet mill, pelleting machine, animal feeds, pellets, feed production, extruded feeds, roll-type extrusion 1. Introduction Production of commercial feeds for local animal raisers in the province of Iloilo is dominated by few feed milling companies like Panay Agribusiness Venture (LoveFeeds) and Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation (Excel Feeds) (PCARRD, 2006). Companies mostly based near Manila like San Miguel, Purina and Vitarich Feed Companies have also gradually penetrated the local markets. According to the Philippines’ Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS, 2009)the raw materials formulated in mixing these feeds aremostly imported since most of them like corn, cannot be sufficiently produced to meet the demand of the animal production industry. This high demand for feedstuffs on a commercial scale gave rise to billions of dollars spent in their importation. The Philippine Association of Feed Millers, Inc. (PAFMI) together with other stakeholders petitioned to the government for the removal of tariffs on imported feedstuffs to lessen the price increase of finished products (Phil. Daily Inquirer, 2008). This is the reason why commercial feeds in the country are very expensive. At the international level, the feed industry is also facing shortage of quality feeds creating variable supply and high prices. These constraints have therefore allowed for the need and exploration of substitute resources (Dhillon et al, 2013). Pelleting is the answer to dusty mashed feeds. Pelletized feeds are easier to handle (Moritz et al, 2002) and animals fed with it had higher feed efficiency (Moritz et al, 2001). It offers several advantages over granular feed materials, including increased bulk density and flowability because the altered physical form will change the angle of repose, the inter-particle friction, and thus typically produce less bridging between particles. Additionally, pelleting generally produces increased nutrient density, palatability and nutrient availability in livestock rations. Pelleted feed often reduces feed waste, dust generation and ingredient segregation.