Overview of technological feed manufacturing processes and criteria for the manufacture of an extruder for fish feed in Benin: Literature review

Abstract

The study presented advances in technological processes for manufacturing fish feed, and assesses the factors influencing the design of an extruder for producing floating feed to meet the needs of Beninese producers. The literature search was based on the following key terms: ‘fish feed manufacturing stages’, ‘feed types’, ‘feed extrusion’, ‘feed granulation’, ‘fish feed manufacturing technologies’. Some fifty documents (articles, reports, news items) dating from the 21^st century were selected for the summary of this study. The results showed that dry feeds were the preferred fish feed in Benin because they polluted less and were easy to handle logistically. The extrusion was the technological process best suited to the dietary requirements of farmed fish, as it guaranteed stability, floatation control and a reduction in anti-nutritional factors in the finished product. To guarantee the manufacture of a wide range of floating fish feeds, it was necessary to opt for a single-screw extruder, whose design was simple and less costly than that of a twin-screw extruder. The design of this single-screw extruder and its manufacture are the next aspects of this study.