Dateline: São Paulo, Brazil — September 16-18, 2025

Summary — During VICTAM LatAm (September 16–18), BellaEx showcased its steam-flaked corn (SFC) and steam-flaked barley (SFB) solutions tailored for Brazil’s beef and dairy markets. Interest surged among visitors from Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, with many taking product samples and technical packets. Two offerings drew the most attention: a low-capex 1–2 TPH ranch solution (as low as US $6–7 per ton) and a 10 TPH feed-mill solution for high-throughput plants. At least five customers expressed intent to pursue deeper regional partnerships with BellaEx.

Exhibition Highlights

BellaEx presented end-to-end SFC/SFB processing lines designed for both on-ranch deployment and feed-mill modernization. Over three exhibition days (Sept 16–18), booth traffic was led by producers and feed manufacturers from Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Visitors engaged in detailed discussions on cost per ton, flake density control, roll metallurgy, and line reliability. Many left with trial samples and application notes for both ranch and mill use cases.

Why SFC Matters in Brazil

As a global powerhouse in beef consumption and exports, Brazil faces constant pressure to raise feed efficiency while controlling costs. Compared with ground corn, steam-flaked corn typically improves starch availability and feed conversion, helping ranches and dairies reach target gains with less grain. In BellaEx field deployments, SFC has enabled customers to cut corn use per unit of gain by an average of ~25%, supporting lower ration costs without sacrificing performance.

Most-Requested Solutions

1) Ranch SFC Line — 1–2 TPH
Built for plug-and-produce simplicity, this package minimizes civil works and fits directly on-site at the ranch. It enables daily flaking aligned with herd needs and reduces transport and shrink. Estimated production cost: as low as US $6–7 per ton, depending on local utilities and operation.

2) Feed-Mill SFC Line — 10 TPH
For commercial mills and large integrators, the 10 TPH configuration combines heavy-duty rolls, precise steam conditioning, and automated density control to deliver consistent flakes at scale. It’s engineered for uptime, hygienic operation, and easy maintenance within existing mill footprints.

On-Site Traction & Partnerships

Throughout the show, feed-mill buyers and ranch operators actively compared SFC/SFB options for Brazil’s grass-grain systems. At least five customers signaled interest in forming deeper regional partnerships, including distribution, service coverage, and localized spare-parts support. BellaEx will progress these discussions to define territories, after-sales response times, and co-marketing plans.

Technical Compare: Steam-Flaked Corn vs. Ground Corn (Dairy & Beef)

The steam-flaking process disrupts the protein-starch matrix of corn, significantly increasing ruminal starch availability compared to ground corn. This practical advantage supports better feed conversion and helps maintain animal performance even at lower corn inclusion rates in the ration. With the higher net energy content of steam-flaked corn, many rations can achieve equal or improved average daily gain (ADG) or milk production while using less grain. This aids in cost control and improves the margin per head.

Properly controlling the flake density (avoiding overly fine flakes) of steam-flaked corn can reduce feed sorting and stabilize rumen fermentation, which is an advantage over aggressively ground corn. The steam-flaking process emphasizes consistent flake density (e.g., lb/bu or g/L) and precise moisture/temperature control, reducing the fines and variability commonly seen with over- or under-ground corn.

On-ranch flaking of corn improves freshness (less time between processing and feeding) and reduces transport/shrink losses compared to hauling bulk ground grain. The use of steam-flaked corn provides more flexibility in rebalancing energy sources (corn vs. by-products/forage) while maintaining performance targets, often leading to improved ration economics.

Call to Action

Producers and feed mills seeking to quantify savings and throughput can request a site-specific cost-per-ton model, including steam demand, roll-wear assumptions, and density targets. BellaEx application engineers will map your current ration and propose an SFC/SFB line sized to your herd or mill capacity.

For partnership inquiries, please contact: ray@bellaex.com

Learn more at www.bellaex.com