Corn Flaking Machines: Reshaping Ruminant Feed Value

Bellaex provides a steam-flaked corn feed solution, covering processes such as storage, cleaning, conveying, soaking, cooking, flaking, drying, and packaging. In 15 years, it has helped 103 feed mills. Customizable solutions for different scales, shorten the payback period by more than 50%. The price is only 1/2 – 1/3 of international brands, and the performance far exceeds international brands.
In the ever-evolving landscape of ruminant feed processing, corn flaking has emerged as a revolutionary technique, offering solutions to long-standing challenges. Traditional corn processing for ruminants, including dairy and beef cattle, grapples with issues like low starch digestibility of unprocessed corn and the risk of ruminal acidosis from fine grinding. The use of corn flaking machines provides an innovative approach to optimizing corn’s nutritional value for livestock.​
Corn flaking, also known as corn flattening, involves a meticulous two-step process. First, corn undergoes steam conditioning at 80-120℃ for 20-30 minutes. This high-temperature steam treatment gelatinizes the starch, breaking down its crystalline structure. Subsequently, precision flaking takes place, where double-roller extrusion presses the conditioned corn into thin flakes, typically 0.5-1mm thick. This process significantly increases starch exposure by over 30%, enhancing its digestibility.​

The advantages of flaked corn are numerous and backed by data. Flaked corn exhibits 23% higher 12-hour gas production compared to unprocessed corn (52.12ml vs 42.35ml), indicating improved rumen fermentation. It also has a 22% faster starch degradation rate (0.082ml/h) and balances digestibility with safety, as evidenced by the rumen starch digestion “b” value of 81.57ml. Moreover, in feed blends, flaked corn allows for a 50% reduction in corn usage without sacrificing energy content.​
For enterprises in the livestock industry, corn flaking technology brings substantial value. Dairy farms can expect an increase of 1-2kg in daily milk yield per cow, while beef producers can achieve a 5-8% lower feed-to-meat ratio. Feed mills, too, can gain a competitive edge by offering “high-digestibility” feed formulas.​
In conclusion, corn flaking machines play a pivotal role in unlocking the full energy potential of corn through steam treatment and mechanical flaking. This not only optimizes feed efficiency but also promotes better animal health. Investing in corn flaking equipment is a strategic move for businesses aiming to thrive in the competitive ruminant feed markets.