The Application of Taguchi Method to Optimize Pellet Quality in Broiler Feeds

ABSTRACT.

The aim of this experiment was to optimize pellet quality by changing different levels of moisture, production rate, grain particle size and conditioning temperature using Taguchi method. In this experiment A 4³ fractional factorial arrangement using Taguchi method was conducted in broiler starter, Grower and finisher feeds with three production rates (3.5, 4 and 4.5 ton h^-1), three steam conditioning temperatures (65, 75 and 85°C), three particle sizes that were achieved by grinding the whole grains in the hammer mill to pass through 6, 6.5 and 7.0 mm sieves respectively, and three moisture content (0, 2.5 and 5%) that were added to the broiler feed in the mixer. During the production process, sampling was done and then PDI and hardness were evaluated in grower and finisher feeds). Results of this experiment showed a significant effect of processing parameters on PDI and hardness. In Conclusion the major finding of this experiment was that the Taguchi method can be used to find the best combination of factors for optimal pellet quality by testing only a fraction of the treatments of the full factorial design.

Keywords:
processing parameters; PDI; hardness; feed physical quality; broiler; pellet