The correct method of preparing piglet feed with soybean

Pig Feed Formulation and Production Process Overview

Formulating and producing high-quality pig feed requires a systematic approach to ensure nutritional value, digestibility, and uniformity. Below is a typical pig feed production process:

1. Feed Formulation

   Feed formulation is guided by:

   • Growth stage of pigs (weaners, growers, finishers)
   • Nutrient requirements (energy, protein, vitamins, minerals)
   • Raw material availability and cost

2. Pig Feed Pellet Production Process

   • Raw Material Receiving
     • Soybean meal, corn, wheat, premixes, etc., are unloaded, tested, and stored.
   • Grinding
     • Materials are ground using a feed hammer mill to ensure uniform particle size for better digestibility.
   • Batching & Mixing
     • Raw materials are precisely weighed and mixed. Vertical or horizontal mixers are used to achieve homogeneous blends.
   • Conditioning
     • The mixed feed is conditioned with steam to improve pellet quality and reduce ANFs.
   • Pelletizing
     • The conditioned mash is compressed into pellets using a pig feed pellet machine. Pellet size usually ranges from 2-5mm for piglets.
   • Cooling
     • Fresh pellets are cooled to ambient temperature to prevent mold and preserve nutrients.
   • Crumbing (if needed)
     • For piglets, pellets may be crumbled into smaller sizes for easier consumption.
   • Screening & Packaging
     • Fine powder is screened out, and final pellets are packed for distribution.

Pig Feed Pellet Production Equipment Overview

High-quality equipment ensures consistency, efficiency, and nutritional integrity of pig feed. A typical pig feed pellet production line includes:

• • Hammer Mill
    • Grinds raw materials into fine particles for better mixing and digestibility
  • Feed Mixer
    • Ensures even distribution of all ingredients
  • Conditioner
    • Uses steam to soften and partially cook feed before pelletizing
  • Pig Feed Pellet Machine
    • Compresses mixed feed into uniform pellets; capacity ranges from 1–40T/H
  • Cooler
    • Reduces pellet temperature and moisture to prevent spoilage
  • Crumbler
    • Breaks large pellets into smaller sizes suitable for piglets
  • Screening Machine
    • Removes powder and oversized particles
  • Automatic Packaging Machine
    • Weighs and bags pellets for sale or storage

Advanced control systems and automation allow consistent production, energy savings, and reduced labor requirements.

After understanding the pig feed production process and the production equipment needed, we focus on analyzing the importance of soybeans in pig feed production formulations as well as options and strategic ideas for formulating pig feeds using soybeans.

Soybean—A Key Ingredient with Challenges

No matter how high feed material prices rise, soybean remains one of the most economical and widely used protein sources in pig feed. Its excellent amino acid profile and availability make it indispensable in swine nutrition. However, soybean contains a variety of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), such as trypsin inhibitors and allergens, which can reduce digestibility, impair animal growth, and negatively affect breeder profits—especially in weanling piglets.

To ensure both the nutritional benefits and safety of soybean in pig feed, it’s essential to optimize the feed formulation and utilize advanced pig feed production equipment that enables precise control over processing parameters.

The Impact of Anti-Nutritional Factors in Soybean

Soybean ANFs primarily affect piglets, especially after weaning. Unprocessed or improperly processed soy protein may cause allergic reactions, triggering the piglet’s immune response and leading to inflammation, diarrhea, and intestinal damage. These effects, even if short-lived, can compromise growth performance and increase susceptibility to infections.

Overcooking soybeans to eliminate ANFs can lead to protein denaturation, undermining their nutritional value. Therefore, feed manufacturers must strike a balance—reducing ANFs while preserving protein integrity.

Solutions and Strategies in Formulation

To address soybean’s limitations, the swine industry adopts different approaches during feed formulation:

Method 1: Immediate Soy Protein Introduction Post-Weaning

• Advantages: Lower formula cost, fast adaptation, fewer feed transitions
• Disadvantages: High risk of diarrhea, especially on farms with suboptimal health conditions
• Typical practice: 10% soybean meal in the first post-weaning diet, rising to 15% in the second, and so on

Method 2: Gradual Introduction with Refined Soy Products

• Uses soy protein concentrate or isolate with nearly zero ANFs
• Separates soy allergen response from weaning stress
• Suitable for sensitive herds but increases feed cost

Balanced Compromise

Many farms adopt intermediate methods that blend safety and cost-efficiency—modifying soy forms and inclusion rates depending on piglet health status and feed intake.

Six Practical Methods of Applying Soybean in Piglet Diets

1. Use full-fat extruded soybeans in early post-weaning diets if trypsin inhibitor < 10mg/g. Up to 10% inclusion is safe; < 5mg/g allows up to 20%.
2. When extruded soybean quality is inadequate, use soybean protein concentrate or isolate with 20% inclusion.
3. Crude protein from soybean in the first diet should not exceed 10% to prevent excessive immune stimulation.
4. Enhance digestibility by including immunoglobulins, fishmeal, and heat-treated grains. Use antimicrobials as needed.
5. Gradual inclusion of 48% protein soybean meal ensures the digestive system matures while adapting to increasing ANFs.
6. Transition to soybean meal as the main protein source in subsequent diets to reduce cost and maintain piglet health.