Hen Feed Plant in Thailand

RICHI MACHINERY

Project Background

Thailand’s poultry industry is one of the most developed in Southeast Asia, ranking among the top exporters of poultry products globally. In recent years, the egg-laying sector has experienced rapid growth, with increasing consumer demand for both domestic consumption and export. This growth places significant pressure on the feed supply chain, which accounts for up to 70% of production costs in poultry farming.

In the northeastern provinces of Thailand, where large-scale egg-laying operations are concentrated, the availability of high-quality, cost-effective feed is critical. However, many smaller farms rely on fragmented or imported feed sources, which often leads to inconsistent feed quality, higher costs, and supply chain disruptions.

To address this issue, a major agricultural cooperative initiated the construction of the hen feed plant in Thailand, aiming to:

1. Ensure feed supply stability by producing feed in-house rather than relying on external suppliers.
2. Lower feed costs by sourcing raw materials locally and optimizing production efficiency.
3. Improve egg quality and yield by providing nutritionally balanced and scientifically formulated feed.
4. Comply with environmental standards, reducing the environmental footprint of large-scale feed production.

The cooperative partnered with RICHI Machinery, an internationally recognized feed equipment manufacturer, to supply the complete feed production line, plant design, and process engineering. This collaboration ensures that the project is supported by advanced technology and operational know-how.

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Project Scale and Construction

The poultry feed plant’s construction layout was designed for operational efficiency, smooth logistics, and environmental compliance. The key construction details are shown below:

Total constructed area: 22,765 m²
Total project land area: 34,227 m²

The plant design emphasizes linear material flow—from intake, pre-cleaning, storage, processing, pelleting, cooling, packaging, and finally distribution. The multi-story workshop structure allows gravity-assisted material transfer, reducing energy consumption and improving processing efficiency.

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Raw Materials and Energy Consumption

The hen feed plant in Thailand is designed to utilize a diverse range of raw materials available locally. This helps reduce costs, ensures stable supply, and supports Thailand’s agricultural economy.

Key raw materials:

• Corn
• Soybean meal
• Rice bran and wheat bran
• Dicalcium phosphate
• Limestone powder
• Vegetable oil
• Premix (vitamins and minerals)

Annual Raw Material Consumption

Energy & Utility Consumption

• Electricity: 2.5 million kWh/year
• Natural gas for boiler: 1,200,000 Nm³/year
• Water: 45,000 m³/year (domestic and process use)

Energy-saving measures include efficient hammer mills, VFD-driven conveyors, and insulated steam pipelines to minimize heat loss.

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Utilities and Environmental Engineering

The hen feed plant in Thailand integrates several utility and environmental protection systems:

1. Boiler System – One 6 t/h natural gas-fired steam boiler, providing steam for feed conditioning and pelletizing. Gas was chosen for its low emissions compared to coal or heavy oil.
2. Dust Control – 21 bag-type dust collectors installed in critical processing areas. Dust is collected and recycled into production, preventing wastage.
3. Wastewater Management – No industrial wastewater is generated. Domestic sewage is pre-treated and sent to the municipal system.
4. Solid Waste Handling – Packaging waste and rejected feed batches are sorted and either recycled or reprocessed.
5. Noise Control – Key equipment is installed on vibration-dampening foundations and enclosed within soundproof structures to meet noise regulations.

The environmental investment amounted to USD 120,000, about 2.5% of the total project cost, reflecting compliance with Thailand’s environmental standards.

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Production Process and Equipment

The production process of the hen feed plant in Thailand follows modern compound feed industry standards:

1. Raw Material Receiving & Cleaning
   • Corn, soybean meal, and bran are received, cleaned, and stored in silos.
   • Impurities (stones, metals, dust) are removed via cleaning machines and magnetic separators.
2. Grinding
   • Raw grains are processed by three hammer mills.
   • Particle size adjusted to meet feed formulation requirements.
3. Batching & Mixing
   • Automated batching system weighs ingredients.
   • High-precision mixers ensure uniform distribution of nutrients.
4. Conditioning & Pelleting
   • Materials are conditioned with steam for gelatinization.
   • Pelleted using SZLH series pellet mills, capacity 15 t/h each.
5. Cooling
   • Pellets cooled by counterflow coolers to safe storage temperature.
6. Screening & Packaging
   • Pellets screened to remove fines.
   • Packaged in 25–50 kg bags or loaded in bulk for delivery.

Major Equipment List

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Environmental Impact and Mitigation

The environmental assessment concluded that the poultry feed mill project’s impacts are controllable:

• Air Quality: With advanced dust collectors, particulate emissions remain below Thai standards. Boiler gas emissions meet limits for NOx, SO₂, and CO.
• Water Quality: No untreated wastewater is discharged.
• Noise: All major equipment is acoustically treated; boundary noise < 55 dB daytime.
• Solid Waste: Fully recycled or safely disposed.

Thus, the hen feed plant in Thailand is categorized as a low-impact industrial project.

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Market Outlook in Thailand

The poultry industry in Thailand is forecast to grow steadily, with the egg production sector seeing 4–5% annual growth. Rising consumer demand, coupled with Thailand’s export opportunities to neighboring ASEAN countries, creates a strong market for high-quality poultry feed.

This project positions the cooperative as a reliable supplier of feed for laying hens, reducing dependency on imports and fragmented suppliers. The hen feed plant in Thailand also enhances competitiveness by ensuring consistent quality and cost-effective production.

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Conclusion

The establishment of the hen feed plant in Thailand represents a landmark project in the region’s poultry sector. With an annual capacity of 150,000 tons, advanced equipment supplied by RICHI Machinery, and a fully enclosed, environmentally friendly production system, the plant demonstrates how modern feed technology can support sustainable livestock development.

By integrating local raw materials, efficient processing, and strong environmental safeguards, this project ensures stable feed supply, lowers production costs, and supports Thailand’s growing poultry industry for years to come.