Particle Size Analysis for Feed Mills

Welcome to the Feed Mill Particle Size Analysis Tool! This application helps feed mill operators quickly determine particle size using the validated 3-sieve method, developed by Kansas State University researchers.

Why Particle Size Matters: Reducing particle size of cereal grains improves feed efficiency in swine and poultry. Accurate determination of particle size or mean diameter is essential for feed manufacturers and producers.

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How to Perform the 3-Sieve Particle Size Analysis

1. Equipment Preparation

Gather the following items:

  • U.S. No. 12 (1.68 mm), No. 30, and No. 50 sieves
  • Lid and receiving pan
  • Caruncle brush and rubber ball (for No. 30 sieve)
  • Two brushes and one ball (for No. 50 sieve)
  • Scale with 0.1g precision
  • Timer
  • Calculator

2. Sieve Preparation

  1. Record empty sieve weights as follows:
    • U.S. No. 12 sieve – empty weight only
    • U.S. No. 30 sieve – weigh with one caruncle brush and one rubber ball
    • U.S. No. 50 sieve – weigh with two brushes and one rubber ball
    • Receiving pan – empty weight only
  2. Stack the sieves in order of descending screen size (No. 12 on top, then No. 30, then No. 50)
  3. Place the stack on top of the receiving pan
  4. Place the caruncle brush and rubber ball on the No. 30 screen
  5. Place the two brushes and one ball on the No. 50 screen

3. Sample Analysis

  1. Weigh exactly 50 grams of your ground grain sample
  2. Place the sample on the top sieve (No. 12)
  3. Place the lid on top of the sieve stack
  4. Shake the stack from side to side by hand for exactly 90 seconds (use a timer)
  5. Weigh each sieve and the receiving pan with the material
  6. Subtract the empty sieve weights to determine the weight of material caught by each sieve
  7. Calculate the percentage of material caught on each sieve

4. Calculation

Calculate the particle size using the following equation:

Particle Size (μm) = (18.832 × A) + (10.870 × B) + (1.1827 × C) – 149.978

Where:

  • A = percentage of sample on the U.S. No. 12 screen
  • B = percentage of sample on the U.S. No. 30 screen
  • C = percentage of sample on the U.S. No. 50 screen

Note:

The 3-sieve method should be validated at least monthly by analyzing an equally representative sample using the standard 12-sieve method to verify procedures and accuracy.

Grain Particle Size Analysis Tool

3-Sieve Calculator
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Weight Measurements Enter the weights of empty sieves and sieves with sample after shaking (in grams).

U.S. No. 12 Sieve

U.S. No. 50 Sieve

U.S. No. 50 Sieve

Pan

Pan

TOTAL

 

About the 3-Sieve Particle Size Analysis Method

The 3-sieve particle size analysis method was developed by researchers at Kansas State University to provide a quick and accurate way to estimate particle size in feed mills without the time and expense required for the standard 12-sieve analysis.

Research Validation

A 2015 study evaluated the accuracy of the 3-sieve method by comparing it to the standard 12-sieve method using 420 grain samples. The research tested various factors:

  • Three grain types (corn, sorghum, wheat)
  • Two top sieve sizes (U.S. No. 12 vs. No. 16)
  • Flow agent usage (0 vs. 0.5g)
  • Technician variation (three different technicians)

Key Findings

  • The original 3-sieve method accurately predicts particle size to within 15 μm of the standard method
  • Technician variation had minimal impact (maximum deviation of 5.1 μm)
  • Top sieve size didn’t significantly affect accuracy
  • Flow agent didn’t improve method accuracy
  • Grain type showed slight differences in accuracy:
    • Underestimated corn by ~12 μm
    • Overestimated wheat by ~15 μm
    • Accurately measured sorghum (within 0.1 μm)

Valid Range

The 3-sieve method has been proven robust for particle sizes from 200 to 900 μm across corn, sorghum, and wheat.

Research Citation

Bokelman, G. E.; Stewart, S. C.; Baldridge, A. L.; Woodworth, J. C.; Dritz, S. S.; Kalivoda, J. R.; Stark, C. R.; and Jones, C. K. (2015) “Evaluating the Accuracy of the 3-Sieve Particle Size Analysis Method Compared to the 12-Sieve Method,” Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 1: Iss. 7.