Evaluation of Physical Quality, Milling Performance, Particle Size Characteristics, and Flowability of Shelled Corn at Different Moisture Contents as an Animal Feed Ingredient

Abstract

HistoryThis research evaluated the effects of different moisture contents on the physical quality, milling performance, particle-size characteristics, and flowability of corn kernels used as animal feed ingredients.The research used a completely randomized design with three moisture content treatments: low moisture (LM), moisture content <14%, medium moisture (MM), 14-16%, and higher moisture content (HM) with >16% moisture, each replicated 10 times, resulting in 30 experimental units.The parameters measured included physical quality (broken kernels, moldy kernels, damaged kernels, and foreign materials), milling performance (milling capacity, milling loss, and milling yield), particle size characteristics (particle size distribution, geometric mean diameter, and uniformity index), and corn flowability (angle of repose, bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index, and Hausner ratio).The results showed that moisture content significantly affected (P<0.05) the physical quality parameters of shelled corn, including the percentages of broken kernels, damaged kernels, moldy kernels, and foreign materials.Moisture content also significantly influenced (P<0.01)milling capacity and milling yield, whereas milling loss percentage was not significantly affected (P>0.05).Particle size characteristics, including particle size distribution, geometric mean diameter, and uniformity index, differed significantly (P<0.01)among moisture treatments.Furthermore, moisture content had a significant effect (P<0.01) on bulk density, tapped density, compressibility index, and Hausner ratio.However, the angle of repose was not significantly affected (P>0.05).

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