Unclean Crops Leading to Poor Feed Quality and Equipment Wear
More pig producers are mixing their own feed using crops from their fields or neighboring farms to improve feed quality and maximize profits. However, unclean grain can introduce impurities such as sand and dirt, negatively impacting feed quality, increasing equipment wear, and reducing animal well-being.
At Bøgekærgård, Danish pig producer Kaj Munck faced serious challenges when feeding his pigs with grain stored in outdoor steel silos. Due to the silo’s auger system, sand and dirt settled at the bottom, leading to:
- Poor feed quality, causing dissatisfaction among pigs.
- Increased wear and tear on mills and feeders.
- Reduced airflow through the grain, raising moisture levels and increasing the risk of toxins in the feed.
With a farm spanning 185 hectares and producing 13,000 piglets annually, Munck needed a reliable solution to ensure clean, high-quality feed while maintaining operational efficiency.
The Solution
Kaj Munck invested in a Kongskilde KDC 8000 PLUS dual cleaner to clean and sort his crops effectively. By implementing the KDC 8000 PLUS, Munck efficiently cleaned and processed 185 hectares of wheat and barley at a rate of 60 tons per hour. This highly efficient system provided several key advantages:
- Dual-Screen Cleaning: The KDC 8000 PLUS features two screen layers, providing a large screening area that efficiently separates grain kernels by size while ensuring the thorough removal of unwanted materials.
- Aspirator Technology: An integrated aspirator removes fine dust particles and other lightweight impurities.
- Adjustable System: The machine’s cleaning efficiency and capacity can be optimized through simple adjustments.
- Robust Design: A fully galvanized construction allows for both indoor and outdoor installation, ensuring durability in various working environments.
“Our problems started when we got to the grain stored at the bottom of our outdoor steel silo. Because of the stiration augers, the sand and dirt, which have been picked up with the grain during harvesting, had moved downwards in the silo. The level of impurities was too high – the pigs were not happy, and the low-quality feed mixture was also causing extra wear and tear on the mills and feeders.
But the problems didn’t end there. The dense layer of sand and dirt at the bottom of the silo meant that the natural airflow through the grain was reduced, and this caused the moisture level to rise and increased the risk of toxins in the feed. “
Kaj Munck
Bøgekærgård, Denmark
The Results
The introduction of the KDC 8000 PLUS delivered immediate and measurable results:
- Healthier Feed for Pigs: Removing over 8 tons of impurities ensured cleaner feed, improving pig health and reducing dissatisfaction.
- Optimized Silo Management: Eliminating contaminants improved airflow, reduced moisture, and minimized mold and toxin risks.
- Reduced Equipment Wear: Cleaner grain reduced strain on mills and feeders, extending lifespan and lowering maintenance costs.
“The Kongskilde 8000 PLUS dual cleaner has been a real eye opener – my crops are much cleaner after being cleaned with the KDC 8000 PLUS.
Now we no longer have problems with sand and dirt, not even when we get to the bottom layer of the silo – and our pigs are happy again.“
Kaj Munck
Bøgekærgård, Denmark
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