Field practice report at Sigma Feedmills Corporation with focus on mash production for swine and chicken

Date

4-2009

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

Major Course

Major in Agricultural and Bio-Process Engineering

College

College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Jessie C. Elauria

Abstract

The field practice was conducted from April 21 to May 16, 2998 at Sigma Feedmills Corporation located at Brgy. Sampaguita, San Antonio, Quezon. The general objective of the field practice is to apply agricultural engineering theories and principles on the feed milling operations of the company and the specific objectives include studying the process flow chat, understanding the principles of operation of the machines and proposing mitigations to be observed problems. Moreover, the study focused on the management and all procedural aspects of mash production for swine and chicken. In July 2001, Mr. Romeo T. Lojo, a previous President and General manager of a company, founded a feed mill named Sigma Feedmills Corporation. It is a small scale feed milling business engaged in the processing of mash for cattle, hogs, and chickens. Sigma offers 5 types of mash, a pallet and a scrumble for hogs, 6 types of mash for chickens and one type for cattle; each of which a specific growth stage in the animal's growth. On the average, it has a monthly production equal to 13,900 sacks and monthly sales of 13,600 sacks. The company occupies a land area of 2200m². Enclosed within this area are the guard's house, the conference room, the checker room, the office, the production area and the storage room foe sacks and a small area where the production and withdrawal workers rest during break. The production area houses are machines and equipment, the accepted raw materials and the finished feeds. Mash production is composed of three phases: feed formulation, receiving of raw materials and feed processing. Feed formulation is basically the process of combining different feed ingredients in a proportion necessary to supply the animals with appropriate amount of nutrients at a specific growth stage. It is performed by a nutritionist and the procedure of which is beyond the scope of the study. After the feed formulation is the preparation of the raw materials. Raw materials can be classified as either macro or micro ingredients. Macro ingredients are the raw materials that are present in the feed formulation in large amount whilst micro ingredients are the feed additives that are put in small amounts.Upon delivery, the macro ingredients subjected to either laboratory analysis or physical analysis or both to check for its nutritional content and/ its acceptability to animals. The results of the analyses must pass the standards set by the Philippines Society of Animal Nutritionist (PHILSAN). On the other hand, micro ingredients are immediately accepted because the certificate of analysis is already attached on it. Feed processing starts with pre-mixing. This procedure involves weighing each micro ingredient in the formulation and combining them in a sack. Meanwhile, the yellow corn, soybean meal and copra cake are ground by three hammer mills and traveled manually using a trolley near the mixer. Also, the remaining macro ingredient in the feed formulation is weighed individually using platform balance and traveled near the mixer using a trolley. All of these are mixed using either 1-ton capacity batch mixer of 250-kg ribbon micromixer. During mixing, molasses and coconut oil are sprayed inside the mixing area with flow rates equal to 90kg/min and 7.14kg/min. After 7-10 minute- mixing time, mixed feed is sacked and weighed. Prior to sealing, the sack of feeds is inspected for straws and other foreign materials. Depending on the type of feed, the packaging can be 50kg or 25kg. Afterwards, finished feeds are piled and stored inside the production area.As conformity to the Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),the company id submitting a Quarterly Self-Monitoring report that contains the amount of Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) and noise level at two sampling stations. As of April 2008, the company's Total Suspended Particulates and noise level is within the limits set by the DENR Sigma Feedmills Corporation has its own way of ensuring the safety of its workers and employees. One obvious safety practices observed is to provision of face masks for the production workers. Furthermore, the author had observed problems in the feed mill recommend mitigations that they relieve them. Some of the observed problems include the unorganized warehouse layout, improper piling of macro ingredients lazy workers, lack od quality inspection of finished feeds and inefficient inventory of raw materials. As a solution, the author proposed a plant layout that will eliminate stacking problem and will maximize the space. Moreover, proper management and implementation of daily inspection of finished products and momnthly counting of raw materials are suggested to assess the quality and the efficiency of the feed milling processes. Lastly, the author had acquired significant knowledge both in technical and social aspects that may help her as future Agricultural Engineer.

Language

English

LC Subject

Feed mills--Management, Swine--Marketing, Chickens--Marketing

Location

UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology

Call Number

LG 993 2009 A2 T75

Document Type

Thesis

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