Alfalfa-Irreplaceable Material for Making Cattle/Horse Feed Pellets

Alfalfa is a an important forage plant in many countries around the world. For a long time, alfalfa has been chosen as good choice for animal feeding as they contain rich calories and protein. Dehydrated alfalfa pellets are made from the aerial portion of the plant. The plant is harvested, then mechanically dried under controlled conditions, then ground into meal. The meal is sold as is, or pelleted, can be used as a supplement or substitute for hay or haylage. Some people also use dry alfalfa to make animal bedding pellets and home heating pellets, with one small pellet mill, you can make these pellets at ease.

Alfalfa Feed Pellets Superiorities

  • Low in carbohydrates
  • Minimal waste, can be accurately weighed and measured
  • Minimal dust
  • Easy to feed and store
  • Useful as an organic fertilizer in gardens or flower beds

Quality Alfalfa Feed Pellets Standard

  • Crude Protein – Min 16%
  • Fat – Min 1.5%
  • Fiber – Max 30%
  • Moisture – Max 12%

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Why Choose Alfalfa for Pellet Fuel Making?

Alfalfa is also a plant that grows throughout the year and has a lifespan that varies from four years to over twenty years, is a high-yielding, nitrogen-fixing perennial crop probably in the world, making it possible to be made into fuel pellets for home heating. Its major advantage over grasses as a bio-fuel is the complete lack of need for N fertilizers from soil or fertilizer sources. This is due to an efficient system of biological N2 fixation, which takes N from the air and makes it available to the plant. This seems to be a major issue overlooked by those promoting grasses as bio-fuels- since as energy prices rise, this will undoubtedly be a more important factor. N fertilizers require considerable fossil fuels for maximizing yields, a major issue for sustainability.

Values of alfalfa as biomass fuel

MJ/kg
BTU/lb
Typical values
Ash
%
Carbon %
Hydrogen
%
Nitrogen
%
Sulphur%
Oxygen
%
Total Chlorine microgram/g
Alfalfa
17
7,435
9.1
45.9
5.2
2.5
0.2
39.5
3,129

Ash: The non-combustible content of alfalfa is referred to as ash.
Carbon: A higher carbon content leads to a higher heating value.
Hydrogen: A higher hydrogen content leads to a higher heating value.
Nitrogen: Lower nitrogen content means lower NOx emissions.
Sulphur: The sulphur content of alfalfa is negligible, so its combustion does not contribute significantly to sulphur emissions.

Alfalfa Pellet Machines for Making Alfalfa Fuel Pellets

As a professional manufacturer of pellet mill, we can supply you the electric flat die alfalfa pellet mill like AZSPLM120 and diesel flat die alfalfa pellet mill like AZSP-120D. Alfalfa pellet machine supplied by us is specially designed for farmers who grow alfalfa. With our low investment alfalfa pellet mill, alfalfa farmers can produce their own alfalfa fuel pellets to reduce the cost of their own farmhouse or other farm building. Our alfalfa pellet mill is multifunctional, that is to say, it can make alfalfa feed pellets and also can make other fuel pellets( mixture of alfalfa and sawdust)

Main technical data of Alfalfa Pellet Machine

Model
Power
Engine
Capacity(kg/h)
Dimension(mm)
AZSPLM120
3kw
Electric motor
Wood pellet:40-60
Feed pellet: 60-100
750*320*610
AZSP-120D
8HP
Diesel engine
Wood pellet:40-60
Feed pellet: 60-100
870*440*730

 

 

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How to Make High Quality Alfalfa Fuel Pellet with Maximum Output?

Factors affecting the alfalfa pellet productivity

Pelleting productivity is measured by manufacturers in terms of production yield, in units of pounds or kg/HP. Alfalfa pellet production rates are vary according to season and whether the alfalfa pellet mill uses fresh cut or sun cured alfalfa. In terms of fresh cut alfalfa, average production rates is 51-62 lbs per hp; in terms of sun cured alfalfa, the production rate is about 41 lbs per hp. Besides, the production rates of alfalfa pellets decline as the forage maturity increases.

Factors affecting the physical quality of alfalfa pellets

The physical quality of alfalfa pellets may vary depending on the manufacturing process and the quality of the hay. According to the experience of our customers who are engaged in the producing of alfalfa pellets, the main factors are the size, moisture content, die configuration of pellet mill and binding agents.

1. Size of alfalfa

The fine grinding alfalfa produces denser pellets and increases the throughout capacity of our alfalfa pellet machine, because the materials can pass through the die more easily. Thus before pelletizing, the alfalfa should be ground into the size of less than 5mm by our alfalfa hammer mill, and the smaller, the better.

2. Moisture content

Moisture content affects the formation of the pellets and the pellet quality significantly, so the wet alfalfa should be dried to the moisture content of 8%-12% by the rotary drum dryer or airflow dryer, not lower than 8% and not higher than 12%.

3. Die configuration

The use of a die with a suitable length/diameter ratio will enhance the durability of alfalfa pellets, increases in the die length/diameter from 5 to 9mm increase pellet durability from 50% to approximately 80%. Our alfalfa fuel pellet machine has be recognized as the suitable pellet machine for making high-quality alfalfa fuel pellets.

4. Binding agent

Although the binding agent is not necessary for making pellets by using our alfalfa pellet machine, the use of binding agents has been proven as a means to reduce the dust and fines generated during transport and handling of alfalfa fuel pellets.