Feed Processing

Physical or chemical changes in feedstuffs that influence their nutritional value. A partial listing of different processing terms includes:
Ammoniated:
Combined or impregnated with ammonia or ammonium compounds.
Blended:
Two or more feed ingredients combined. NOTE: Blending does not imply a uniformity of dispersion.
Chopped:
Particle size reduced by cutting with sharp-edged instruments. i.e., knives.
Cleaned:
Undesired materials removed using screens, magnets or forced air.
Condensed:
Reduced to a more dense form by removing moisture.
Cracked:
Particle size reduced by a combined breaking and crushing action.
Crimped:
Feed rolled using grooved rollers.
Cured:
Feed preserved by drying, chemical additives or other preservation methods.
Dehulled:
Grains, fruit or nuts whose seed coat or outer shell has been removed.
Dehydrated:
Moisture removed by heat.
Ensiled:
lant materials preserved by anaerobic fermentation.
Exploded:
Grain kernels swollen to several times their original size by first steaming under pressure to force moisture into the kernels, and then exposing to air.
Extracted:
Fat or oil is removed by heat and mechanical pressure (mechanically extracted) or by organic solvents (solvent extracted).
Extruded:
Feed forced through narrow openings under pressure.
Fermented:
Feed subjected to an aerobic or anaerobic process in which yeast, molds or bacteria act to produce alcohol, acids, B complex vitamins or antibiotics.
Flaked:
Feed rolled or cut into flat pieces with or without prior steam conditioning.
Ground:
Particle size reduced by mechanical shearing, wearing or impact.
Irradiated:
Feed treated, prepared or altered by exposure to a specific level and duration of radiation.
Micronized:
Feed subjected to dry heat by microwaves emitted from infrared burners, followed by rolling.
Mixed:
Feeds combined by agitation to a specified degree of dispersion.
Pearled:
Process of reducing dehulled grains into smaller smooth particles by machine brushing or abrasion.
Pelleted:
Feed compressed into a circular or cubic mass, forced through die openings by a mechanical process and cut at predetermined lengths.
Popped:
A commercial process to improve appearance and palatability of beans; promoted as a method to improve protein digestion.
Rendered:
The process of removing and/or clarifying one substance (i.e.. fat, water) from another, either through the use of heat or by pressing and draining a solid residue of cooked material.
Roasted:
Feed heated to a desired temperature in an oven for a period of time. Roasting increases the availability of carbohydrates and may reduce protein breakdown in the rumen.
Rolled:
Grain passed between a set of rollers splitting the coarse outer grain shell.
Shredded:
Similar to chopped, except feedstuffs are cut longitudinally rather than cross-wise.
Steamed:
Ingredients treated with steam to alter physical and/or chemical properties.
Steeped:
Feed soaked in water or other liquid.
Textured:
A ration containing fine materials in a pelleted form, mixed with coarser ingredients.