Dr. Yusuf YEL
Animal Nutrition Consultant
TMR Yem

Raw material quality control stands out as one of the most critical factors in preventing performance losses in feed mills. Long-standing issues in the industry, including poor performance and health problems, are often rooted in inadequate raw material inspection and control practices. Disciplined supplier management, effective analytical systems, and proper storage conditions are therefore seen as key pillars of sustainable feed production.

Years ago, a respected expert in the industry made a striking observation: “Since we started producing feed, the textile and automotive industries have undergone major transformations. Yet in the feed industry, we still hear the same complaints: diarrhea, low performance, and poor appetite…”

This statement highlights one of the most critical issues in our sector: while production technologies continue to evolve, why are field results not improving at the same pace?

With the perspective and confidence this insight gave me, I had to make a crucial decision early in my career. A contracted batch of approximately 3,000 tons of cottonseed meal was rejected because it did not meet our quality expectations. This decision created serious short-term operational challenges; dozens of trucks were held at the factory entrance and ultimately sent back. However, the message was clear—not only for that specific batch but for all suppliers: quality standards are non-negotiable.

Such decisions are often questioned from a cost-driven perspective. However, the reality in the field is clear: the cost of poor-quality raw materials is always higher than the cost of rejecting a batch. At this point, we encounter one of the most critical and often overlooked causes of failure in feed mills: insufficient raw material quality control.

Today, feed production in our country has reached approximately 30 million tons. Securing the required raw materials at this scale is already a significant challenge. Ensuring that these materials are procured at competitive prices while maintaining consistent quality standards requires a strong organization and a highly competent team.

There is also an important lesson from the past. The avian influenza outbreaks in the early 2000s had severe consequences for the poultry sector. However, the industry responded by restructuring its entire system and significantly improving raw material quality criteria and control mechanisms.

QUALITY STARTS WITH THE SUPPLIER

Raw material quality is determined before it even enters the factory gate. Therefore, selecting reliable suppliers is the first step in quality management. In practice, however, many operations compromise supplier standardization for short-term price advantages. Yet variable raw materials inevitably lead to variable performance.

RECEIVING POINT: THE MOST CRITICAL CONTROL STAGE

The moment raw materials enter the facility is one of the most critical control points. Simple but effective checks at this stage can prevent many issues before they reach production. Visual inspection, odor assessment, physical structure, and temperature measurement are fundamental elements of this process.

RAPID ANALYSIS: THE KEY TO FAST DECISIONS

Modern feed mills increasingly rely on NIR (Near-Infrared Reflectance) technology to enable rapid and practical analysis, accelerating decision-making processes. However, NIR is not a reference method—it is a decision-support tool and requires regular calibration to ensure reliability.

LABORATORY ANALYSIS: THE VERIFICATION LAYER

Comprehensive laboratory analysis is indispensable for detailed quality control. Protein fractions, fiber structure, starch digestibility, and mycotoxin analyses are critical parameters in this context.

TRACEABILITY: THE INVISIBLE POWER OF CONTROL

Every batch of raw material must be properly recorded. This traceability system allows field problems to be analyzed retrospectively and ensures accountability throughout the supply chain.

STORAGE: THE SILENT ENEMY OF QUALITY

Even high-quality raw materials can rapidly deteriorate under poor storage conditions. Moisture, temperature, ventilation, and adherence to FIFO (First-In, First-Out) principles are critical at this stage.

CONCLUSION: QUALITY CONTROL IS NOT A COST, IT IS AN INVESTMENT

Success in feed production cannot be achieved through formulation alone. For a formulation to deliver results in the field, the raw materials used must be consistent and under control.

Field experience clearly shows that within a total quality management framework, raw material quality control accounts for at least 50%, and in many cases up to 60%, of overall success. This is followed by process control and finished feed quality control.

Using high-moisture corn in dairy or beef feed, or incorporating burnt or moldy raw materials into formulations—even in small amounts—while expecting high performance and premium milk or meat quality is simply unrealistic. Such practices have no real-world justification and inevitably lead to significant performance losses.

An effective raw material quality control system:

•  Optimizes production costs
•  Prevents performance losses
•  Increases customer trust

In conclusion, sustainable success in feed mills is built on a disciplined and uncompromising approach to quality control.