Sugar beet pellets are a proven feedstuff in agriculture that is obtained from the by-products of sugar production. These pellets offer an efficient and sustainable way of preserving nutrients and supplying them to the animals in an easily digestible form. But how exactly are sugar beet pellets made? In this article, we take a detailed look at the processing of sugar beet into pellets and explain the individual steps that lead to this valuable feedstuff.
The raw material: the sugar beet
Sugar beet is a crop that is mainly grown to produce sugar. After harvesting, the beet is processed in sugar factories, where the sugar is extracted from the plant cells. The residue from this process, known as sugar beet pulp, forms the basis for sugar beet pellets.Step 1: Extracting the sugar
The first processing step in the sugar factory is to extract the sugar from the beet. The sugar beet is cleaned and cut into small pieces. These beet cossettes are then extracted with hot water in a multi-stage process to dissolve the sugar. The resulting mixture of sugar water and the remaining fibrous components is separated, with the sugar water being further processed to obtain the crystalline sugar.Step 2: Pressing the sugar beet pulp
The fibrous residues that remain after sugar extraction are known as sugar beet pulp. These cossettes are still heavily saturated with water and must therefore be pressed to remove most of the moisture. Mechanical pressing significantly reduces the water content of the pulp, which facilitates the drying process and increases the shelf life.Step 3: Drying the cutlets
After pressing, the sugar beet pulp still contains a considerable amount of residual moisture. To preserve them and prepare them for a pelletizable form, the pulp is dried. This is done in large drum dryers, which heat the pulp evenly and thus further reduce the moisture content. This step is crucial, as too much residual moisture in the pellets could lead to storage problems such as mold growth.Step 4: Pelletizing the dried shreds
Once the chips have been sufficiently dried, the actual pelleting process begins. The dried chips are pressed through a die under high pressure in a pelleting machine, giving them their characteristic cylindrical shape. The heat generated by the pressure helps to shape the pellets and stabilize them at the same time. The size of the pellets can vary depending on the specific requirements of the farms. Common sizes are 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm. Smaller pellets are well suited for animals with sensitive digestive systems or those that have difficulty chewing, while larger pellets are ideal for animals that prefer a slow feed intake.Step 5: Cooling and storage
After pelleting, the pellets are still warm and relatively soft. To preserve them and increase their stability, they are brought to ambient temperature in a cooling process. This takes place in special coolers, which cool the pellets evenly and firm up their final shape. Once the pellets have cooled, they are either packaged immediately or stored in silos before being delivered to farms. Packaging is usually in large bags or in bulk, depending on the buyer’s requirements.Variations in processing: molasses-coated pellets
A common additional process in the production of sugar beet pellets is the addition of molasses. Molasses is a by-product of sugar production and is often used to increase the energy content and palatability of the pellets. In this case, the dried pulp is sprayed or mixed with molasses before or during pelleting. The resulting molasses-coated pellets are slightly stickier and have a higher sugar content, which makes them particularly attractive for animals in productive phases such as lactation.Advantages of sugar beet pellets
Processing sugar beet pulp into pellets offers numerous advantages:- Shelf life: Due to the drying and pelleting process, sugar beet pellets have a long shelf life and can be stored without any problems.
- Easy handling: The pellets are easy to dose and can be used in automatic feeding systems.
- Concentrated nutrients: The pellet form enables a concentrated supply of fiber and energy, which is particularly important for the health of the animals.
- Sustainability: Sugar beet pellets use a by-product of sugar production, which helps to conserve resources and minimize waste.