Feed Processing Unit Process Flow — Raw Material Receiving, Cleaning, and Grinding Processes

The process flow of a compound feed processing unit can be summarized as follows: raw material receiving and cleaning → crushing → batching → mixing → pelleting/forming → metering and packaging. While this sequence appears straightforward, the actual production of finished products involves numerous challenges, making the operation considerably more complex. Next, we will examine the process steps of the compound feed processing unit—specifically, raw material receiving and cleaning, as well as the crushing stage.
I. Process Flow of the Compound Feed Processing Unit—Raw Material Receiving and Cleaning
1. Raw Material Receiving
Receiving raw materials is the first step in ensuring the quality of feed products. The receiving equipment and process design must ensure the safe storage of both raw materials and finished products, and the cleaning equipment for incoming materials should be appropriately configured during the receiving process.
(1) Tackle the issue at its source and strictly prevent gray‑area activities.
The source of raw materials is procurement. To rigorously prevent and deter gray‑area transactions in the procurement process, feed companies must, first, implement an accountability system for procurement activities, and second, ensure that procurement personnel possess the requisite knowledge of raw material quality.
(2) Raw Material Receiving Procedure
The purchasing department will notify the receiving and quality control departments in advance of the arrival of raw materials at the factory and ensure that all necessary preparations are in place. The warehouse keeper will weigh the materials to verify that the quantity matches the details specified in the purchase contract. Upon receipt of the on-site material‑retention report, the quality control department will conduct on‑site sampling, perform a preliminary sensory assessment of the material quality, and proceed with the storage of qualified materials.
2. Raw Material Washing
Impurities mixed into feed ingredients, if not removed beforehand, can compromise product quality, hinder animal growth, damage processing equipment, and disrupt production.
3. Improvement of the Raw Material Preparation Process
During raw material processing, in addition to enhancing methods for removing impurities, another significant change is the introduction of preliminary treatment, which is carried out prior to crushing or batching. Preliminary treatment serves two purposes: first, to eliminate undesirable constituents in the raw materials; and second, to enhance the nutritional efficacy of the active ingredients.
II. Process Flow of the Compound Feed Processing Unit—Grinding Process
1. Pulverization Process
The grinding process is one of the primary operations in feed mills. The quality of grinding directly affects the quality, throughput, and energy consumption of feed production, as well as the intrinsic nutritional quality and feeding performance of the feed. Grinding has long been a dynamic area of research in the feed-processing industry, with key metrics including particle size, uniformity, and energy efficiency.
Grinding process design should address the aforementioned performance indicators to achieve optimal results. For particle size control in hammer mills, simply selecting an appropriate screen is sufficient. Currently, three crushing processes are available: single-stage crushing, two-stage crushing, and closed-circuit crushing.
2. Crushing Equipment

Crushing equipment includes three types: horizontal hammer mills, roller crushers, and vertical hammer mills. Roller crushers produce relatively uniform particle sizes and allow precise control over the size distribution; overall, vertical hammer mills are the primary models being developed. In feed production, different feed formulations and livestock species have varying requirements, so modular configurations tailored to specific needs have become a prevailing trend.