Homogeneity depends on matching particle sizes
A micro ingredient will not stay evenly distributed in a mash whose particle size is very different from its own. Segregation during conveying and storage is a physical certainty, not a mixing failure, when granulometry is mismatched.
Fines are a cost and a safety issue
Excessive fines reduce pellet durability, increase dust and, in some ingredients, raise explosion and respiratory risk. Specifying a maximum fines fraction is as important as specifying the mean diameter.
Typical industrial reference values
| Broiler mash cereals | 700–900 µm | |
| Swine diets | 500–700 µm | Finer improves digestibility, raises ulcer risk |
| Shrimp feed raw materials | < 250 µm | Water stability and ingestion size |
| Micro ingredients / carriers | 100–500 µm | Must match the carrier for homogeneity |
Indicative industry reference values for orientation only — always contract against the delivered lot.
What to verify
- —Geometric mean diameter and standard deviation, not a single sieve pass rate
- —Maximum fines fraction
- —Sampling point — particle size changes with handling
Typical risks
- —Segregation of micro ingredients
- —Pellet durability loss
- —Dust generation and handling losses
Common mistakes
- —Specifying only 'passes X mm sieve'
- —Ignoring that pneumatic conveying and repeated handling reduce particle size
Frequently asked questions
Is finer always better?
No. Finer particles improve digestibility up to a point, then increase gastric ulceration risk in swine, worsen flow, raise dust and increase grinding energy. The optimum is species-, form- and equipment-specific.
Related topics
Purity covers everything that should not be in the cargo — foreign matter, other-grain admixture, hulls, soil, packaging debris and deliberate adulterants — and is verified by physical inspection plus targeted analysis.
Digestibility expresses the proportion of a nutrient the animal can actually absorb; it converts an analytical composition into a nutritional value.
Packaging is a technical specification: material, weight, liner, sealing, palletisation and marking determine whether the product arrives at specification and can be traced and handled safely.
Build a structured RFQ with the parameters, tolerances and verification steps written in — free for buyers.
Start your RFQFor commercial farm feed buyers
Buying feed specified on particle size & granulometry for a commercial farm
- Best for
- Commercial farms, integrators, distributors and feed buyers sourcing feed specified on particle size & granulometry and related feed, additives or nutrition supply on a recurring commercial scale — not pet food, hobby farms or backyard quantities.
- Animal species covered
- Broilers and layers, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, tilapia, salmon and shrimp, plus sheep and goats on request.
- Typical feed buyer needs
- A written specification, verified suppliers who can hold that specification, comparable pricing on the same delivery terms, documented quality (CoA, certifications) and a supply schedule that matches production.
- Bulk feed and recurring supply
- Most requests are bulk or big-bag volumes on monthly or quarterly contracts. Volume per delivery, storage capacity on farm and contract length change price more than the headline per-tonne quote.
- Feed additives and premix
- Premix, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, organic acids, toxin binders and other additives can be quoted alongside compound feed or ingredients so one supplier comparison covers the whole ration.
- What affects feed cost
- Raw-material origin and specification, inclusion rates, freight and Incoterms, packaging, order volume, payment terms, currency and certification requirements. Landed cost, not ex-works price, decides the winner.
- RFQ checklist
- Species and production stage, tonnes per month, target specification, delivery port or farm location, packaging, required certifications, first delivery date and contract duration.
- Supplier matching process
- You define the requirement, FeedMatch structures the RFQ, sends it to relevant qualified suppliers, and returns comparable offers side by side so you can negotiate on equal terms.
- Buyer is not charged
- Farm buyers are not charged to submit a requirement, receive matched suppliers or compare quotes.
FeedMatch helps farm buyers compare feed suppliers, nutrition providers, additives suppliers and related solutions. FeedMatch is an intermediary and does not manufacture feed or provide financing directly.
Technical parameter names and analytical method references are kept in English because they are quoted verbatim in contracts, certificates and international standards.
Educational reference. FeedMatch Group does not rank, recommend or endorse manufacturers.
← All topics