How do I make my own fish feed?

Homemade fish feed must adhere to the core principles of "scientific formulation, standardized process, and thorough maturation." The complete process is divided into five stages: raw material preparation and formulation, raw material pretreatment, mixing and stirring, extrusion molding, and post-processing and packaging. The extrusion molding stage is crucial for improving feed quality and must be completed using a Small Fish Feed Extruder Machine.

The first stage, raw material preparation and formulation, requires selecting appropriate raw materials based on the species of fish being farmed. Taking common grass carp as an example, the basic formula is: 30% cornmeal, 25% soybean meal, 20% fishmeal, 15% wheat bran, 8% rapeseed cake, and 2% minerals. For tilapia farming, the formula can be adjusted to: 25% cornmeal, 30% soybean meal, 15% fishmeal, 20% wheat bran, 8% bone meal, and 2% vitamins. Raw materials must be high-quality products free from mold and impurities; avoid using expired or inferior raw materials that could harm the fish's health. Simultaneously, prepare a small fish feed extruder and check its integrity beforehand, paying particular attention to ensuring that core components such as the screw, die, and cutter are securely installed.

The second stage involves raw material pretreatment. Solid raw materials in the formula are pulverized to 80-100 mesh using a small pulverizer to ensure uniform particle size and prevent large particles from clogging the extruder. After pulverization, a vibrating screen is used to remove incompletely pulverized lumps and impurities. The moisture content of the raw materials is then checked and controlled between 12% and 15%. Excessive moisture can cause the raw materials to clump together inside the extruder, while insufficient moisture will prevent adequate frictional heat generation, affecting the cooking effect. If the moisture content is insufficient, a small amount of warm water can be sprayed to adjust; if the moisture content is too high, natural drying is required.

The third stage involves mixing and stirring. All pretreated raw materials are poured into a small mixer and stirred for 5-8 minutes to ensure a mixing uniformity of over 95%. During mixing, it is important to note that trace components such as vitamins and minerals should be diluted with a small amount of cornstarch before being added to the overall raw material mixture to avoid uneven distribution. After mixing, the raw materials should be kept loose; any lumps should be manually broken up.

The fourth stage is extrusion and shaping, which is the core step. Preheat the small pet food extrusion machine by setting the temperature to 120-140℃ for 10-15 minutes. During preheating, run the machine unloaded for 2 minutes to check for smooth operation. After preheating, feed the mixed raw materials into the feed hopper of the small pet food extrusion machine at a uniform speed, ensuring the feed rate is precisely matched to the screw speed (recommended screw speed 350-400 rpm, feed rate 5-10 kg/h). The raw materials are subjected to high temperature and pressure within the extrusion chamber, causing the starch to gelatinize fully and the proteins to denature. After being extruded through the die orifice, the materials are instantly expanded and shaped. The cutter rotates synchronously, cutting the pellets into uniform lengths of 3-5 mm. During operation, observe the pellet condition in real time. If the pellet surface is smooth and the texture is crisp, the parameters are appropriate; if the pellets are blackened and charred, reduce the temperature by 5-10℃; if they are loose and brittle, increase the temperature or reduce the feed rate.

The fifth stage is post-processing and packaging. Freshly puffed pellets are at a high temperature with a moisture content of 18%-22%, so they must be immediately cooled to room temperature in a cooler to prevent residual heat from causing mold growth. After cooling, they are screened using a grading sieve to remove broken and substandard pellets. Finally, they are packed into sealed bags and stored in a dry, ventilated place, where they can be stored for 3-6 months. Throughout the process, the operating parameters of the small fish feed pellet making machine directly determine the quality of the finished product. Beginners need to repeatedly try and optimize the parameters to master the correspondence between the parameters and the finished product's state.

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