Mills use several methods as they work to keep the insides of their equipment—and, thus, the feed they produce—clean and residue-free. | Photo: iStock

—Via e-mail

A.Feed mills sometimes use shelled corn to flush their milling equipment to remove residue from previously manufactured feeds. Mills have several ways they keep the insides of their equipment clean and residue-free. They can physically clean out the equipment, use sequencing, flushing, or a combination of these methods.

Mill Cleaning Methods

Physically cleaning equipment involves shutting the mill down while personnel sweep, wash, disinfect, and scrape out equipment at accessible areas. This cleaning method is likely the most effective at preventing residue carry over from previous feed manufacturing, but it’s costly because it requires considerable equipment down time. Good manufacturing practices stipulate mills must be designed in such a way that cleanout procedures can be used as needed