Alfalfa, known as the “Queen of Forage”, is one of the most valuable plants for animal feed, organic fertilizer, and renewable biofuel. With advanced alfalfa pellet making machines, it can be efficiently processed into high-density pellets with wide applications. Below we explain the key benefits, production process, and available alfalfa pellet mill models from RICHI Machinery.
Alfalfa Pellet Benefits
Alfalfa pellets are gaining popularity globally because they offer convenience, efficiency, and versatility. They can be used in several industries including livestock farming, agriculture, and energy production.
(1) Alfalfa Pellets as Feed
As the “Queen of Forage”, alfalfa is an ideal feed for chickens, cattle, horses, sheep, and goats due to its high protein, calcium, and vitamin content. When processed into pellets, it offers multiple advantages:
- Improved digestibility and better nutrient absorption for animals.
- Reduced storage space and easier transportation compared to loose hay.
- Minimized waste during feeding.
- Better feed hygiene and longer shelf life.
(2) Alfalfa Pellets as Organic Fertilizer
Alfalfa pellets can also serve as an organic fertilizer because of their high nitrogen content—around 5%. They contain essential trace minerals and triacontanol, a natural plant growth promoter, which helps enhance crop yield and soil health. The key advantages include:
- Excellent nitrogen source for organic farming.
- Improvement in soil structure and microbial activity.
- Environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers.
(3) Alfalfa Pellets as Biomass Fuel
Dried alfalfa can also be transformed into pellet fuel. When mixed with other biomass materials such as wood chips, grass, or waste paper, alfalfa pellets become a cost-effective, low-emission renewable energy source. Benefits include:
- High calorific value and clean combustion.
- Low ash and smoke emission, making it environmentally friendly.
- Renewable and sustainable energy source for heating systems.
How to Make Alfalfa Pellets
To produce premium alfalfa pellets, you need to select a suitable alfalfa lucerne pellet making machine based on your production goals, raw material condition, and capacity requirements. The basic production process is as follows:
- Raw Material Preparation – Collect and pre-cut alfalfa into small pieces (below 5 cm) for easier drying and grinding.
- Drying – Reduce moisture content to 12–15% using a dryer or natural drying method to ensure proper pelletizing.
- Grinding – Use a hammer mill to crush alfalfa into powder (2–4 mm). Fine grinding ensures higher pellet density.
- Pelletizing – Feed the powder into an alfalfa pellet mill where it’s compressed under high temperature and pressure to form pellets.
- Cooling – Cool the freshly extruded pellets using a counterflow cooler to harden them and prevent moisture absorption.
- Packing – Pack the cooled pellets into bags (25 kg, 50 kg, or bulk bags) for storage or sale.
In addition to proper equipment, the pellet mill manufacturer is a crucial factor. Choosing a CE and ISO certified alfalfa pellet machine supplier like RICHI Machinery ensures reliability, long service life, and global after-sales service.
Alfalfa Pellet Making Machine for Sale
RICHI Machinery provides a complete range of alfalfa pellet mills for both small and large-scale production. Each model is equipped with advanced components such as Siemens motors, SKF bearings, and hardened stainless-steel ring dies to ensure stable operation and consistent pellet quality.
- Alfalfa Pellet Mill Machine SZLH250 – www.cn-pellet.com/product/szlh250-feed-pellet-mill.html
Capacity: 0.3-2 t/h | Motor Power: 22 kW | Ideal for small and medium feed plants. - Alfalfa Feed Pellet Machine SZLH320 – www.cn-pellet.com/product/szlh320-feed-pellet-mill.html
Capacity: 0.5-4 t/h | Motor Power: 22 kW | Compact design and high efficiency. - Alfalfa Pellet Making Machine SZLH420 – www.cn-pellet.com/product/szlh420-feed-pellet-mill.html
Capacity: 2-10 t/h | Motor Power: 90 kW | Suitable for medium-to-large commercial plants. - Alfalfa Pellet Mill Machine SZLH508 – www.cn-pellet.com/product/szlh508-feed-pellet-mill.html
Capacity: 3-12 t/h | Motor Power: 132 kW | Heavy-duty model for industrial-scale production lines.
RICHI Machinery offers complete alfalfa pellet production line solutions from raw material handling to packaging. Each system is customizable to meet your specific requirements for capacity, automation level, and local raw material types.
Contact RICHI today to get detailed quotations, technical drawings, and project design for your alfalfa pellet plant.