BREAKAGE SUSCEPTIBILITY STUDIES ON ALFALFA AND ANIMAL FEED PELLETS

Pellet durability index, expressed as percent, is a measure of pellets resistance to breakage. Industrial experience has shown that the ASAE S269.4 tumbler cannot indicate the true durability of pellets. A new pellet durability tester (DURAL) which subjects pellets to impact and shear forces was developed. The new tester was evaluated for its consi stency in measuring durability of feed pellets and the results were co mpared to the ASAE Standard S269.4. Statistical analysis of the data s howed that the new pellet durability tester was capable of discriminat ing the durability of alfalfa and feed grain pellets.