Effect of pellets transport on its quality

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of pellets from the end of the pelletizer machine until the end of the line feed plate, using two methods of analysis: pellet durability index (PDI) and EMBRAPA pelletizing method (MEP). Furthermore, the effect of the discharging methods at the broiler farm on the physical quality of pellets using MEP as a method of analysis was evaluated. The first phase of the experiment was a randomized block with six treatments: A - pellets at the end of the pelletizer machine; B - pellets inside the truck; C - truck's discharging at the feed silo; D - place inside the warehouse after the feed silo; E - the middle of the feed plate line and F - the end of the feed plate line. The experiment was carried out in seven replicates (blocks). The second phase of the experiment was a randomized block with two treatments: A - smaller discharge opening (for pellets feed); B - bigger discharge opening (for mashed feed). The experiment was performed with twelve replicates (blocks). The discharge of the pellets feed at broilers farm is the point that worsens the pellets quality. The discharge of pellets feed by the truck should be done with the bigger discharge opening. Moreover, MEP showed to be a better method than PDI to evaluate the integrity of the pellets for broiler chickens.本研究旨在采用两种分析方法——颗粒耐久性指数（pellet durability index, PDI）与巴西农牧研究院制粒法（EMBRAPA pelletizing method, MEP），评估制粒机出料端至输送线喂料板末端的颗粒饲料质量。此外，本研究采用MEP作为分析方法，评估了肉鸡场卸料方式对颗粒饲料物理质量的影响。本实验第一阶段为随机区组设计，共设置6个处理组：A组为制粒机出料端的颗粒饲料；B组为运输卡车装载的颗粒饲料；C组为卸至饲料料塔的卡车卸料颗粒饲料；D组为从饲料料塔转运至仓库储存的颗粒饲料；E组为输送线喂料板中段的颗粒饲料；F组为输送线喂料板末端的颗粒饲料。本阶段实验设置7次重复（区组）。本实验第二阶段同样为随机区组设计，共设置2个处理组：A组为小型卸料口（适配颗粒饲料卸料）；B组为大型卸料口（适配粉状饲料卸料）。本阶段实验设置12次重复（区组）。实验结果表明，肉鸡场的颗粒饲料卸料环节是导致颗粒饲料质量劣化的关键节点。采用卡车卸料时，应选用大型卸料口以保障颗粒饲料质量。此外，相较于PDI，MEP更适用于评估肉鸡饲料颗粒的完整性。