Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / R. Scott Beyer / Broiler chicken feed is processed. Cereal grains are ground to reduce particle size and the feed usually is pelleted. When pelleted, broiler diets are steam conditioned and forced through a die causing varying levels of starch gelatinization. Cereal grain particle size and starch gelatinization can be controlled during feed manufacturing. Earlier research has shown that starch gelatinization negatively affects growth performance of 0 to 21 d of age. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn particle size and starch gelatinization on growth performance, dressing percentage, and gizzard size when fed to 22 to 42 d of age broilers. Increasing particle size from 470 to 1240 μm increased body weight gain, dressing percentage, and relative gizzard size. Starch gelatinization increased relative gizzard size. No interaction effects were detected. To expand on previous experiments, a trial was conducted to investigate the effect of starch gelatinization on broiler chick gastrointestinal pH, glucose absorption, and glucoregulation. Starch gelatinization level affected jejunum pH, with a higher pH reported at 20% starch gelatinization. Increases in starch gelatinization decreased blood glucose and increased glucagon level. Highest measured glucagon level was reported in broiler chicks fed the diet with 20% starch gelatinization level diet after 6 hours of starvation. A third experiment was conducted to determine the effect of starch gelatinization on metabolizable energy and amino acid digestibility. Increasing starch gelatinization from 0 to 100% increased true metabolizable energy and fecal output in roosters. No effect was found on apparent metabolizable energy or amino acid digestibility, with an increase in starch gelatinization from 0 to 20%. Increasing particle size from 470 to 1240 μm had a positive effect on 22 to 42 d growth performance. A starch gelatinization level of 20% or lower had no effect on metabolizable energy or amino acid digestion. Older broilers with larger gastrointestinal tracts are unaffected by 20% gelatinized starch; whereas, 20% gelatinized starch reduced blood glucose and increased glucagon levels of young broilers. Lower blood glucose and increased glucagon are indicative of lower glucose storage, and could cause reduced young broiler growth performance when fed diets with gelatinized starch.

Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Leland McKinney / The current forage handling equipment in the cellulosic ethanol industry is severely limited by the low bulk densities of baled and ground biomass. Low bulk densities contribute to flowability problems and lack of maximizing trailer capacities. By pelleting we can increase the bulk density and flowability characteristics of forages. The objectives of this research were to evaluate (1) the energy requirements of grinding sorghum stalks, corn stover, wheat straw and big bluestem through two different screen sizes, (2) the energy requirements of pelleting forages from the two grind sizes, and (3) the physical properties of our various end products. The two screen types were found to have significantly different energy consumptions from each other (P<.0001). The majority of the four forage types were also found to have significantly different energy consumptions for grinding from each other (P<.0001). The exception was big bluestem vs. corn (P=.2329). All of the 1/8” vs. 1/8” and 1/8” vs. 3/8” grinds were significantly different from each other (Most P<.0001 and all at least P<.05). 3/8” sorghum was significant against all other 3/8” forage types. No other comparisons were significant for 3/8” vs. 3/8” (All 3/8” sorghum P<.0001). Production rate through the 3/8” screen was almost 3 times that of the 1/8” screen (Average of 400 lb/hr vs. 150 lb/hr). The two screen types were found to have significantly different energy consumptions for pelleting from each other (P<.0001). The four forage types were also found to have significantly different energy consumptions from each other (P<.0001) while the big blue vs. wheat did not. (P=.1192). Particle length for the 1/8” grind ranged from .06 inches to .07 inches, while the 3/8” grind ranged from .08 inches to .12 inches. Pelleting increased bulk density from 6.24 lb/ft3 to 9.99 lb/ft3 for biomass grinds to 31.17 lb/ft3 to 43.77 lb/ft3 for pelleted biomass. Pellet quality ranged from 93% to 98%. A cost analysis indicated that it would take roughly $20 extra per ton for the transportation, pre-processing and storage of pelleted cellulosic biomass than whole corn. This cost is still almost half that of the cost for baled biomass.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Keith C. Behnke / A series of experiments was conducted to compare methods used to evaluate the durability of animal feed pellets, as well as to investigate the potential for modeling the effects of formulation and processing factors on both pellet durability index (PDI) and pelleting energy consumption, measured in kilowatt hours per ton (kWh/ton). Seven different factors, including ground corn particle size, added fat level, inclusion of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), feed rate, steam conditioning temperature, conditioner retention time, and pellet die thickness (L:D ratio) were examined. Each factor was evaluated at two levels, and treatments were developed in order that all factor to factor comparisons could be made. Pellet samples were analyzed according to the standard method as described in ASAE S269.4, a modification of this method, and by using the NHP100 pellet tester set to each of its four testing intervals (30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds). The standard method was found to provide the most consistent and repeatable determinations of pellet durability, and was found to correlate well with the modified method, as well as with the NHP100 results at 30 and 60 seconds. Physical attributes of feed pellets, such as pellet hardness, bulk density, and moisture content were found to have significant, but weak correlations with pellet quality. Pellet quality was found to be significantly influenced by all factors other than ground corn particle size and feed rate. Higher fat level, lower conditioning temperature, and the thinner pellet die most significantly lowered pellet quality, with increasing effect respectively. A regression model was developed that was able to predict pellet durability within an average of 1.1 PDI. Pelleting energy consumption was found to be significantly influenced by all seven factors, with the higher fat level, thinner pellet die, and higher conditioning temperature most improving efficiency, with increasing effect respectively. A regression model was developed that was able to predict energy consumption within an average of 0.3 kWh/ton. The successful creation of regression equations demonstrates that there is potential for modeling and optimizing pellet quality and energy consumption within a pelleting operation.

Apesar das diversas aptidões de uso do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), como forragem para pastoreio ou silagem, cobertura do solo e alimentação humana, alguns fatores são limitantes para a expansão do cultivo dessa espécie no Brasil e um dos agravantes é a qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes comercializadas. Assim, este trabalho visou aplicar as técnicas de condicionamento fisiológico, peletização e incorporação de fósforo às sementes para favorecer a implementação e o desenvolvimento da cultura em campo. O experimento envolveu sementes do cultivar BRS 1501, representadas por três lotes, com condicionamento envolvendo água e soluções de PEG6000, enquanto que a peletização foi testada inicialmente com adesivos (PVA, PVP k30, bentonita e Metil celulose) e diferentes produtos em pó com base inerte ou fosforada. As avaliações consistiram de testes físicos iniciais, testes fisiológicos por seis meses de armazenamento, desenvolvimento das plantas em campos com diferentes disponibilidades de fósforo no solo e avaliações químicas de fósforo total e fosfatase ácida em plântulas e plantas de milheto. Não há diferemça significativa na germinação das sementes e emergência das plântulas originadas de sementes pré condicionadas. A peletização das sementes é uma alternativa viável para alteração do volume das sementes sem alterar seu desempenho fisiológico. Em relação à incorporação de fósforo ao pélete das sementes, há efeito significativo no desenvolvimento das plântulas, assim como para a absorção deste macronutriente. Por outro lado, há impacto significativo de materiais e doses específicas sobre a qualidade fisiológica das sementes, principalmente do fosfato bicálcico. / Beside the many aptitudes of the pearl millet (stock feeding, hay, soil layer protection and food in general), some factors limit its expansion in Brazil, being generally, the low physical and physiological seed quality on the market as one of the harshest problems. Thus, this study aimed at applying physiologic conditioning techniques, pelleting and phosphorus application on seeds to improve seedling emergence and crop development in the fields. The experiment used 3 seed lots of BRS 1501 cv, with water and osmotic solution conditioning, while pelleting was tested with 4 different binders (PVA, PVP k30, bentonite and Methil celulose) and different inert and phosphorate powder products. The evaluations consisted of initial phisical tests, followed by physiological tests for 6 months of storage, Field development under 2 different phosphorus soil content and, chemical evaluations as total P content and acid phosphate on pearl millet seedlings and plants. The results show no significant difference on the seedling emergence and germination of physiological conditioned seeds. The seed pelleting was effective on improving seeds volume without harming seed physiologic performance. Regarding phosphorous incorporation through seed pellet, the results show significant effects on the seedling development, as well as it´s absorption. However, with significant impact of specific materials and quantities on the seeds physiologic performance, especially with Bicalcic phosphate.

Apesar das diversas aptidões de uso do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), como forragem para pastoreio ou silagem, cobertura do solo e alimentação humana, alguns fatores são limitantes para a expansão do cultivo dessa espécie no Brasil e um dos agravantes é a qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes comercializadas. Assim, este trabalho visou aplicar as técnicas de condicionamento fisiológico, peletização e incorporação de fósforo às sementes para favorecer a implementação e o desenvolvimento da cultura em campo. O experimento envolveu sementes do cultivar BRS 1501, representadas por três lotes, com condicionamento envolvendo água e soluções de PEG6000, enquanto que a peletização foi testada inicialmente com adesivos (PVA, PVP k30, bentonita e Metil celulose) e diferentes produtos em pó com base inerte ou fosforada. As avaliações consistiram de testes físicos iniciais, testes fisiológicos por seis meses de armazenamento, desenvolvimento das plantas em campos com diferentes disponibilidades de fósforo no solo e avaliações químicas de fósforo total e fosfatase ácida em plântulas e plantas de milheto. Não há diferemça significativa na germinação das sementes e emergência das plântulas originadas de sementes pré condicionadas. A peletização das sementes é uma alternativa viável para alteração do volume das sementes sem alterar seu desempenho fisiológico. Em relação à incorporação de fósforo ao pélete das sementes, há efeito significativo no desenvolvimento das plântulas, assim como para a absorção deste macronutriente. Por outro lado, há impacto significativo de materiais e doses específicas sobre a qualidade fisiológica das sementes, principalmente do fosfato bicálcico. / Beside the many aptitudes of the pearl millet (stock feeding, hay, soil layer protection and food in general), some factors limit its expansion in Brazil, being generally, the low physical and physiological seed quality on the market as one of the harshest problems. Thus, this study aimed at applying physiologic conditioning techniques, pelleting and phosphorus application on seeds to improve seedling emergence and crop development in the fields. The experiment used 3 seed lots of BRS 1501 cv, with water and osmotic solution conditioning, while pelleting was tested with 4 different binders (PVA, PVP k30, bentonite and Methil celulose) and different inert and phosphorate powder products. The evaluations consisted of initial phisical tests, followed by physiological tests for 6 months of storage, Field development under 2 different phosphorus soil content and, chemical evaluations as total P content and acid phosphate on pearl millet seedlings and plants. The results show no significant difference on the seedling emergence and germination of physiological conditioned seeds. The seed pelleting was effective on improving seeds volume without harming seed physiologic performance. Regarding phosphorous incorporation through seed pellet, the results show significant effects on the seedling development, as well as it´s absorption. However, with significant impact of specific materials and quantities on the seeds physiologic performance, especially with Bicalcic phosphate.

Owing to the increasing demand for alternative fuel additives, the Canadian ethanol industry has grown tremendously. In Western Canada, wheat has been the dominant feedstock for ethanol production because of steadily increasing domestic production and higher ethanol yields. Low protein and high starch wheat varieties have further increased the potential of grain-based ethanol production. As a consequence, the increased ethanol production has demonstrated an exponential increase in the availability of its co-products. Depending on the processes used, several co-products are produced, such as bran, condensed distillers solubles (CDS), and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Wheat bran is obtained as the co-product when debranning is incorporated in ethanol production. Debranning of wheat feedstock may be integrated into the ethanol production process to improve ethanol quality and yield. Debranning follows the principles of abrasion and friction. It improves the starch content of the feedstock and the fermentation efficiency of the ethanol plants. Several abrasive equipment that generate products having good quality and desirable ethanol yield are being used commercially. Among these, the Satake mill and the tangential abrasive dehulling device (TADD) are prominent, having high debranning efficiency, levels of sanitation, and improved production rates. In this thesis, the laboratory debranning process using these two equipment was optimized by varying the process variables in order to improve the ethanol production process. In the Satake mill, the sample size (30 and 200 g), rotational speed (1215, 1412, and 1515 rpm), grit size (30, 36, and 40), and retention time (30, 60, and 90 s) were varied. In the TADD mill, the sample size (30 and 200 g), grit size (30, 36, 50, and 80), and retention time (120, 180, 240, and 300 s) were varied while maintaining a constant rotational speed of 900 rpm. The experimental results indicated that in the Satake mill, 200 g sample size, 1515 rpm rotational speed, 30 grit size, and 60 s retention time provided optimal debranning and starch separation efficiency. For the TADD mill, 200 g sample size, 900 rpm rotational speed, 50 grit size, and 240 s retention time provided optimal results. Increased availability of ethanol co-products from the pretreatments and other processes brings forth the need for broadening the areas of application of these co-products. Among the various applications, the usage of the co-products as animal feed is predominant. Ethanol co-products have been traditionally incorporated as ingredients for animal feed. This thesis is aimed at combining the wheat bran and CDS in varying proportions (70:30, 80:20, and 90:10) and producing high quality animal feed pellets. Laboratory-scale pelleting was done at varying pelleting temperatures, 60, 75, and 90°C, to optimize the pelleting process. The results of laboratory-scale single pelleting indicated that 90:10 bran-CDS ratio and 90°C pelleting temperature produced pellets having good physical properties. Pilot-scale pelleting was done to verify the optimized variables, and to produce dimensionally stable and highly durable feed pellets. The results showed that 70:30 bran-CDS mixture produced pellets with high nutrient content and physical properties (760.88±2.04 kg/m3 bulk density and 97.79±0.76% durability). Similar to the single pelleting results, high pelleting temperatures (75°C) produced pellets with desirable physical properties. However, on cooling, the bulk density and durability change was the highest for 70:30 bran-CDS pellets, indicating an improvement in the physical characteristics. In conclusion, the bran and CDS, the two co-products of the ethanol industry, could be combined to produce feed pellets having good physical and nutritional properties.

Diss. (sammanfattning). Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

This thesis deals with the drying of biomass, especially drying of small wood mass. The various drying methods, such as belt drying, fluidized bed drying and drum drying are compared including their advantages and disadvantages. It is suggested basic technological scheme of drying line. The last part of the thesis deals with a calculation of drum dryer of specified performance and economic balance is made.

<p>U savremenom uzgoju živine i svinja sme&scaron;e se retko koriste u pra&scaron;kastom obliku<br />već se uglavnom peletiraju nakon ume&scaron;avanja pojedinačnih sastojaka. Pri<br />peletiranju dolazi do naru&scaron;avanja granulacije sme&scaron;e, odnosno do gotovo<br />potpunog eliminisanja krupnih čestica, kao i do nastajanja velike količine najsitnijih čestica. U okviru istraživanja u ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji ispitivan je uticaj promene odabranih parametara mlevenja i peletiranja na granulaciju čestica od kojih su pelete sačinjene. Cilj je bio da se utvrdi kombinacija parametara koja doprinosi povećanju sadržaja krupnih čestica, &scaron;to je značajno u ishrani živine, odnosno da se utvrdi kombinacija parametara koja će u &scaron;to većoj meri uvećati sadržaj čestica srednje veličine i umanjiti udeo najsitnijih čestica, &scaron;to je značajno u ishrani svinja. Pri tome je određivan i kvalitet peleta, koji ne sme biti značajnije naru&scaron;en, kao i potro&scaron;nja energije pelet prese za koju je poželjno da je &scaron;to niža.<br />Nezavisni parametri peletiranja bili su granulacija kukuruznog mliva, rastojanje (zazor) između valjaka i matrice pelet prese, debljina matrice pelet prese i sadržaj vode materijala koji se vodi na peletiranje. Istraživanje je podeljeno u dve faze, gde je u prvoj za usitnjavanje primenjen mlin čekićar, a u drugoj mlin sa valjcima. Na oba uređaja prizvedene su po tri granulacije mliva, pri čemu se granulacija ukrupnjava od najsitnijeg mliva dobijenog na mlinu čekićaru do najkrupnijeg mliva dobijenog na mlinu sa valjcima. U prvoj fazi tri granulacije mliva dobijene na mlinu čekićaru su peletirane u kombinaciji sa tri zazora valjci-matrica (0,30; 1,15 i 2,00 mm) i tri sadržaja vode materijala (14,5%, 16,0% i 17,5%), a u drugoj fazi tri granulacije mliva dobijene na mlinu sa valjcima peletirane su u kombinaciji sa tri debljine matrice (24, 30 i 36 mm) i tri sadržaja vode materijala (14,5%, 16,0% i 17,5%). Dakle, u obe faze su varirana tri parametra na tri nivoa pri čemu je primenjen Box-Behnken eksperimentalni dizajn. Zavisno promenljive karakteristike (odzivi) bili su temperatura matrice pelet prese, specifična potro&scaron;nja energije pelet prese, udeo pra&scaron;ine u peletama, stepen želatinizacije skroba, tvrdoća, stepen otiranja i nasipna masa peleta, kao i granulacija materijala nakon peletiranja. Za svaki od pomenutih odziva definisan je polinom (model) drugog reda. Dobijeni modeli upotrebljeni su za optimizaciju procesa peletiranja sa ciljem da se postigne željena granulacija peletiranog materijala, uz &scaron;to bolji kvalitet peleta i uz &scaron;to manju potro&scaron;nju energije.<br />U istraživanju je utvrđeno da mliva sa približno istom vredno&scaron;ću geometrijskog srednjeg prečnika, dobijena na mlinu čekićaru i mlinu sa valjcima, imaju značajno različitu raspodelu veličine čestica. Na mlinu čekićaru dobija se &scaron;ira raspodela, sa većim sadržajem najkrupnijih i najsitnijih čestica, u poređenju sa mlinom<br />sa valjcima. Za proizvodnju mliva približno istog geometrijskog srednjeg prečnika, a pogotovo mliva sa relativno sličnom raspodelom veličine čestica,<br />potro&scaron;nja energije kod mlina sa valjcima značajno je manja u poređenju sa mlinom<br />čekićarom. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Potvrđeno je da peletiranje uzrokuje veliki intenzitet usitnjavanja čestica bez obzira na primenjene parametre. Međutim, određene kombinacije parametara mogu doprineti značajnijem očuvanju krupnih čestica. Parametar peletiranja koji najvi&scaron;e doprinosi<br />povećanju udela krupnih čestica u peletama je granulacija mliva koje se upućuje na<br />peletiranje. &Scaron;to je krupnija granulacija, udeo krupnih čestica u peletama će biti veći.<br />Rezultati optimizacije procesa peletiranja u prvoj fazi ukazuju da je u pogledu proizvodnje peletirane hrane za živinu, kada je poželjno očuvanje određene količine krupnih čestica, potrebno primeniti krupno mlevenje na mlinu čekićaru, uz<br />pode&scaron;avanje zazora između valjaka i matrice od 2 mm i uz sadržaj vode materijala od 17,5%. U drugoj fazi optimizacijom je utvrđeno da je potrebno koristiti debljinu matrice od 30 mm, najkrupniju granulaciju mliva na mlinu sa valjcima i vlagu od 17,5%. Pri proizvodnji peletirane hrane za živnu povoljnije je koristiti mlin čekićar, s obzirom da je utvrđeno da su čestice mliva dobijenog na čekićaru otpornije na usitnjavanje tokom peletiranja od čestica dobijenih na mlinu sa valjcima &scaron;to omogućuje očuvanje većeg broja krupnih čestica tokom peletiranja. Povećanje &scaron;irine zazora valjci-matrica nije poželjno prilikom peletiranja hrane za svinje jer se povećava intenzitet usitnjavanja čestica, a time i udeo najsitnije frakcije čestica. Sličano je i sa povećanjem debljine matrice. U prvoj fazi istraživanja, rezultati optimizacije pokazuju da je u cilju povećanja udela frakcija čestica srednje veličine (630 &ndash; 1600 &mu;m), kao i smanjenja sadržaja najsitnijih čestica (&lt; 125 &mu;m), potrebno primeniti najsitnije mlevenje na mlinu čekićaru, najveći sadržaj vode materijala (17,5%), dok zazor između valjaka i matrice treba podestiti da bude ne&scaron;to veći od 0,30 mm. I u drugoj fazi istraživanja optimizacija je ukazala da je najveći udeo čestica srednje veličine (630 &ndash;<br />1600 &mu;m), kao i najmanji udeo čestica &lt; 125 &mu;m, ostvaren pri peletiranju najsitnijeg<br />mliva dobijenog na mlinu sa valjcima. Pri tome sadržaj vode je potrebno podesiti na<br />17,5%, dok debljina matrice treba biti oko 28 mm.<br />Pri predloženim optimalnim parametrima peletiranja ostvaren je zadovoljavajući<br />kvalitet peleta, a potro&scaron;nja energije pelet prese bila je na prihvatljivom nivou.</p> / <p>In modern poultry and swine breeding, animal feed is rarely used in powder form but mainly pelleted after mixing of different ingredients. During pelleting process, granulation of the feed is compromised, i.e. coarse particles are<br />almost completely destroyed and the content of fine particles is strongly<br />increased. This doctoral thesis investigated the impact of changes in selected grinding and pelleting parameters on granulation of particles after pelleting. The goal was to achieve the quantity of coarse particles in pellets to be as high as possible, which is important in poultry nutrition. Another goal was to determine the combination of parameters that will increase, as much as possible, the content of particles medium in size and reduce the share of the smallest particles, which is important in swine nutrition. At the same time quality of the pellets must not be significantly degraded and energy consumption of pellet press should be as low as possible.<br />Independent pelleting parameters were corn granulation after grinding, the distance (gap) between the rollers and the die of pellet presses (roller-die gap), the thickness<br />of the pellet press die (die thickness) and the water content of pelleted material. The study was divided in two stages. In the first stage the corn was ground using a hammer mill and in the second stage, roller mill was used. Three different granulations were produced on both mills. Coarseness of the ground material increased from the finest material produced using the hammer mill to the coarsest material obtained at the roller mill. In the first stage, three different granulations produced at the hammer mill were pelleted in combination with three different roller-die gaps (0.30, 1.15 and 2.00 mm) and three different water contents of material (14.5%, 16.0% and 17.5%). In the second stage three different granulations produced at the roller mill were pelleted in combination with three different die thicknesses (24, 30 and 36 mm) and three different water content of material (14.5%, 16.0% and 17.5%). Thus, three parameters were varied at three levels in both stages and experiments were designed according to Box-Behnken design. Depended variables (responses) were: temperature of the pellet press die, specific energy consumption of pellet press, dust content in pellets, degree of starch gelatinization,&nbsp; particle size of the material after pelleting. For each of the responses, a second order polynomial model was defined and used for optimization of the pelleting process. It was determined that particle size distribution of material with similar geometric mean diameter, obtained with hammer mill and roller mill, is significantly different from each other. Hammer mill produced higher quantity of the coarsest and the finest particles comparing to roller mill. Energy consumption of roller mill for grinding to similar particle size distribution or similar geometric mean diameter is lower compared to hammer mill. Even though it was determined that secondary grinding of particles during pelleting is inevitable, certain combinations of pelleting parameters may contribute to significant preservation of large particles and to reduction of quantity of small particles. Results of optimization in the first stage indicated that for the production of pelleted poultry feed, when certain amount of coarse particles should be preserved, it is necessary to apply coarse grinding on hammer mill, with the roller-die gap of 2 mm and with material water content of 17.5%. In the second stage it was determined that it is necessary to use die with thickness of 30 mm, coarsest granulation at the roller mill and material water content of 17.5%. In the production of pelleted poultry feed it is better to use a hammer mill since it was found that the particles obtained on hammer mill are more resistant to secondary grinding than the particles obtained with the roller mill. Roller-die gap increase is not desirable during pelleting of swine feed because it increases secondary grinding, and thus the proportion of the smallest particles. Similar effect has an increase of the die thickness. In the first stage of the study, the results of the optimization showed that the largest quantity of medium-sized particles (630 &ndash; 1600 &mu;m), and the lowest quantity of the smallest particles (&lt; 125 &mu;m), were achieved with the finest grinding on the hammer mill. At the same time water content of 17.5% should be applied, while the roller-die gap should be close to 0.30 mm. In the second stage of the study, the largest quantity of medium-sized particles, and the lowest quantity of the smallest<br />particles, was achieved with the finest grinding on the roller mill. According to the optimization results, the water content should be set to 17.5%, while die thickness should approx. 28 mm. With the proposed optimal parameters, satisfactory pellet quality was achieved, and energy consumption of the pellet<br />presses was at an acceptable level.</p>