Development and Performance Evaluation of an Indigenous Fish Feed Palletizing Machine

• J. O. Ojediran

  Department of Agric and Bio-systems Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria

• J. T. Fasinmirin

  Department of Agric and Bio-systems Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria

• O. P. Owa

  Department of Agric and Bio-systems Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria

Fish feed pelleting machine was designed and fabricated using locally sourced materials. Design calculations were carried out to determine the specifications of essential parameters for the development of the machine and the performance of the machine was evaluated. Some of the parameters evaluated include pelletizer efficiency, throughput capacity and percentage oat of the pellets. Results showed that the mean pelletizer efficiency was highest (72.35±6.46) in feed materials at 18% moisture content and lowest (18.45±1.70) in feed materials with 10% moisture content. Percentage pellet float was highest (78.67±3.06) in feed materials with 18% moisture content, while the lowest percentage float was recorded in feed materials with 10% moisture content. However, the throughput capacity was highest (4.13±0.31) in feed with 25% moisture content followed by feeds with 18% moisture with a value of 3.80(±0.36). the lowest throughput capacity of value 2.43(±0.15) was recorded in feed materials with 10% moisture content. Findings from the research are useful in the design of pelletizer with optimum capacity to produce pellets, through the use of appropriate moisture condition for feed materials.

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