Pet food and animal feed are typically screened at 3 to 60 mesh (6,730 to 250 microns) depending on the application. Kibble and pellet scalping uses 3 to 8 mesh, fines removal uses 6 to 14 mesh, and feed ingredient screening for powdered vitamins, minerals, and premixes uses 20 to 60 mesh.
Screening is critical in pet food and animal feed manufacturing for product quality, food safety, and regulatory compliance. Fines and broken pieces in finished kibble create dust, reduce shelf appeal, and can indicate processing problems. Incoming ingredients must be screened to remove foreign material and ensure consistent particle size for proper mixing and extrusion. ScreenerKing supplies stainless steel screens and complete screener units to pet food manufacturers and feed mills across the United States.
Recommended Mesh Sizes by Application
| Material / Application | Mesh Size | Micron Size | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble — oversize scalping | 3–4 mesh | 6,730–4,750 µm | Remove clumps and oversized pieces after extruder |
| Kibble — fines removal (large breed) | 4–6 mesh | 4,750–3,350 µm | Remove crumbs and broken pieces from large kibble |
| Kibble — fines removal (small breed) | 8–14 mesh | 2,380–1,400 µm | Remove fines from small kibble before packaging |
| Feed pellets — fines removal | 6–10 mesh | 3,350–2,000 µm | Remove broken pellets and dust after pellet mill |
| Ground corn / soybean meal — safety screening | 8–16 mesh | 2,380–1,190 µm | Remove foreign material from incoming ingredients |
| Vitamin / mineral premix | 20–40 mesh | 841–400 µm | De-agglomerate and check screen before blending |
| Fish meal | 8–20 mesh | 2,380–841 µm | Remove oversize lumps and foreign material |
| Powdered milk replacer | 20–40 mesh | 841–400 µm | De-lumping and safety screening |
| Treats — oversize and fines removal | 4–10 mesh | 4,750–2,000 µm | Remove broken treats and dust before packaging |
Factors That Affect Mesh Selection for Pet Food and Feed
- Kibble size: Pet food kibble varies from 3 mm (small cat kibble) to 20 mm (large dog kibble). Match the fines-removal mesh to the smallest acceptable kibble dimension.
- Fat and oil content: Kibble coated with fat or oil is sticky and can blind screens. Use coarser mesh and consider bounce ball deblinding for oily products.
- Moisture content: Fresh-extruded kibble has higher moisture and is softer. Screen after drying when the kibble is firm and dry for better separation.
- Product temperature: Kibble from the dryer or cooler may still be warm and soft. Allow adequate cooling before screening.
- Regulatory requirements: Pet food is FDA-regulated. FSMA preventive controls require identifying and controlling physical hazards. Safety screening of incoming ingredients is a preventive control in most pet food HACCP plans.
Screen Material Recommendations
304 stainless steel is the standard screen material for pet food and animal feed. 304 SS is FDA-compliant, corrosion-resistant, and provides the durability needed for continuous production.
316 stainless steel is recommended for wet pet food ingredients, high-salt formulations, and aggressive washdown environments.
T-430 stainless steel is used in pet food facilities requiring magnetically detectable screens as part of HACCP foreign body control.
Equipment Recommendations
- Small pet food brands and lab (under 1,000 lb/hr): ScreenerKing SiftPro 18" or 24" — ingredient screening and small-batch production.
- Mid-volume production (1,000–5,000 lb/hr): ScreenerKing SiftPro 30" — kibble fines removal and ingredient screening.
- Large pet food plants (5,000–15,000 lb/hr): ScreenerKing SiftPro 48 (48") — industrial-capacity screening after extrusion and drying.
- Feed mills and large-scale (15,000+ lb/hr): ScreenerKing SiftPro 60 — maximum throughput for high-volume feed processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mesh size removes fines from pet food kibble?
Fines are removed using 6 to 14 mesh (3,350 to 1,400 microns) on the bottom deck. Kibble stays on the screen while broken pieces and dust fall through. Small-breed kibble uses 8 to 10 mesh, large-breed uses 4 to 6 mesh.
Do I need food-grade screens for animal feed?
For pet food, yes. FDA regulates pet food and requires cGMP compliance. Use 304 stainless steel. For livestock feed, stainless steel is recommended for contamination prevention and longer life, though not always required by regulation.
What screener size do I need for a feed mill?
A ScreenerKing SiftPro 48 handles up to 10,000 lb/hr. A SiftPro 60 handles over 10,000 lb/hr. Operations under 5,000 lb/hr can use a 30-inch separator. Contact ScreenerKing for sizing assistance.
