Final Report to the Minnesota Pork Board I. Project Title: Influence of Storage Bin Design and Feed Characteristics on Flowability of Pig Diets

2 West Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, Morris; 3 Iowa State University, Ames, 4 Minnesota Extension Regional Office, Mankato; 5 Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul II. Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feed bin design and the use of passive agitators on flowability of feed containing 40% dried distillers grains with solubles. In Experiment 1, six bins representing 3 different styles and manufacturers (2 per design) were used. The three bin styles were: 1. galvanized steel, seamless bin with a 60 degree round discharge cone (Steel 60; Dealers Livestock, Glenwood, MN); 2. galvanized, corrugated steel bin with a 67 degree round discharge cone (Steel 67; PigTek, Milford, IN); and 3. white, poly bin with a 60 degree round discharge cone (Poly 60; Prairie Pride, Winnipeg, MB). About 6,000 lbs of a commercial finishing diet containing 40% DDGS (particle size of feed ranged from 860 to 1,015 microns) were delivered to each bin. Laboratory measures of feed flowability (Carr Indices) indicated that the feed used in these experiments would create flowability problems under commercial conditions. On days 3, 7 and 21 after feed delivery, the rate of feed flow from each bin was assessed by measuring the time required for all feed to flow from the open slide at the bottom of the cone. Feed flowed from the Poly 60 bin (1,624 lb/min) at a faster rate (P < 0.05) than the Steel 60 bin (1,329 lb/min) with the Steel 67 bin intermediate (1,462 lb/min). In