Turning up the heat on feed safety: with the Retention Time Barrel

PTN newsletter October 2021

Nothing is more important to mill owners and operators than feed safety. It’s often said that feed safety equals food safety. But as the globalization of food (and farm) systems continues, we know that feed customers are acutely aware of the need for increased hygiene – and protection against pathogen like salmonella. The best way to achieve this hygienization? Through heat-treated conditioning of your feed: with the Retention Time Barrel (RTB).

Introducing the Retention Time Barrel

The requirements for hygienization are pretty straightforward: you need a temperature above 85°C and a minimum retention time of 3-to-4 minutes in the conditioner to combat salmonella. The challenge? Consistently meeting these parameters is far from straightforward when using traditional equipment – because you never quite know how long any individual feed particle has been treated inside the ‘black box’ of the conditioner. Our RTB is a first-in-first out technology that solves this problem and guarantees the hygienization of your feed.

How does it work?

As the name suggests, the RTB is a barrel-shaped system. It sits atop the conventional conditioner and uses a unique screw to push the feed through in a systematic way; with a special dosing device at the end of the shaft that creates a continuous flow to either a pelleting line or a mash feed line. Simply pre-set the RTB system to a guaranteed temperature of up to 85-90°C and choose a retention time of 1-6 minutes.

Tailoring your approach

The precise retention time and temperature you choose will always be dependent on your specific formulation. You also need to choose the right RTB for your current (and potential) capacity. In all cases, we have the technology and in-house expertise to meet your precise needs – because there really is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.

  • Our RTB comes in six sizes and is proven to hygienize all kinds of formulations worldwide. So, why not get in touch with our expert team and we’ll be delighted to explain more.
  • Or, check out our latest episode of Feed Forward for a more detailed explanation of how and why this technology can help you create a safer product.

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