alfalfa pellet machine
Product Information
Alfalfa Pellet Machine
Capacity: 0.5-8 T/H
It’s a machine that turns loose, fluffy alfalfa into small, high-density pellets. Rollers push alfalfa powder through a ring die under strong pressure, and out come tight cylindrical pellets.The high-temperature conditioning process easily matures the raw materials, locking in the protein and chlorophyll of alfalfa, making it more readily consumed and better digested by cattle, sheep, and rabbits.
A single alfalfa pellet machine transforms what was originally difficult-to-process and wasteful loose forage into stable, efficient, and highly nutritious pelleted feed.
Main Components of Alfalfa Pellet Machine
Alfalfa is fluffy, has long fibers, and is only moderately tough. If the machine isn’t designed properly, the pellets will either come out loose and crumbly or full of dust. RICHI’s alfalfa pellet machine has targeted design features on several key components.
Feeding System
Alfalfa meal is light – it tends to pile up in the hopper, clump together, and block the outlet. So we’ve installed a variable-frequency feeder at the inlet, allowing you to adjust the speed as needed. The inlet also has a pair of anti-clump rollers that break up any clumps. But even that isn’t enough when you’re dealing with really fluffy material – it simply won’t drop fast enough on its own. That’s why we added a forced feeder right before the pelleting chamber, which actively pushes the material in and ensures a steady feed.
Pelleting Chamber
Pelleting depends on the combined action of rollers, the ring die, and the cutter. Alfalfa fiber can be slippery, causing the rollers to spin without gripping. That’s why we use biomass-specific rollers with a textured surface – they bite into the material securely. Under strong pressure, the alfalfa powder is forced into the holes of the ring die (the compression ratio can be adjusted according to your raw material and final product requirements). It comes out as uniform-diameter strips, and the alfalfa pellet machine’s cutter chops them into consistent pellet lengths. We use a two-roller, single-cutter design – which gives you longer pellets with a nice finish.
Conditioner
If you press alfalfa fiber directly, it’s likely to turn into powder instead of forming firm pellets. So if you’re making feed pellets, we first send it through a conditioner to soften it with steam. The conditioner injects steam while twin paddles continuously mix the material, so every bit of alfalfa gets evenly coated. After that, the once-dry and brittle fiber becomes much more pliable – and much easier to press into shape.
Technical Specifications
Our alfalfa pellet machines are designed specifically for ruminants like cattle and sheep. We offer several models, each with slightly different specifications. Want to know which one is right for you? Contact us for free guidance.
| Model | CZLH320 | CZLH350 | CZLH420 | CZLH520 | CZLH678 | CZLH768 |
| Main Motor Power (kW) | 22 | 37 | 90 | 132 | 200 | 250 |
| Anti-clump Feeder Power (kW) | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Forced Feeder Power (kW) | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Ring Die Inner Diameter (mm) | 320 | 350 | 420 | 520 | 673 | 762 |
| Finished Pellet Diameter (mm) | 4-12 | |||||
| Output (t/h) | 0.5-0.6 | 1.0-1.2 | 1.8-2.0 | 2.8-3.0 | 4.0-5.0 | 6.0-8.0 |
Note: The output figures above are rated outputs for a complete production line. Actual output will vary depending on how the raw material is processed and its moisture content.
Alfalfa Pellet Machine Videos
Would you like to learn about the actual operation of the RICHI alfalfa pellet machine? We have helped clients build alfalfa pellet production lines in countries such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. By watching the video, you may gain a deeper understanding of this equipment.
1-2 T/H Alfalfa Pellet Machine in Uzbekistan
6-7 T/H Alfalfa Pellet Machine in Kazakhstan
Key Technical Features
For a raw material like alfalfa – high-fiber, fairly hard, and slightly corrosive – RICHI’s alfalfa pellet making machine has been systematically reinforced in three areas: wear resistance, power output, and safety. This ensures stable and reliable operation even under long-term heavy loads.
Alfalfa fiber wears down ring dies much faster than ordinary grains do. That’s why we use 42CrMo alloy steel for the ring die, and we carburize and harden its surface. The final hardness reaches HRC58–62 – significantly more wear-resistant than a standard stainless steel die.
The inner walls of the die holes are precision-polished to a roughness of Ra ≤ 0.8 microns, so the alfalfa meal passes through smoothly without sticking or clogging. Depending on your raw material (e.g., how much old stem is present) , the ring die compression ratio can be adjusted freely between 1:10 and 1:18. Swapping to a die with different hole diameters gives you different pellet sizes.
Wear Resistance
Compressing alfalfa hay requires overcoming considerable resistance – so the motor and gearbox need to be robust. We equip our alfalfa pellet machines with Siemens motors, ranging from 22kW to 250kW depending on the model and capacity. The gearbox uses high-precision ground gears for high transmission efficiency and low operating noise. It supports continuous full-load production without overheating or noticeable speed drop, even after long periods of heavy operation.
Power
The alfalfa pellet machine body is welded from heavy-duty, thickened steel plates, giving it excellent rigidity. Even under high-frequency vibration, the machine stays stable, reducing extra wear caused by shaking. We’ve also added a safety pin in the drive system. If a hard object gets into the pelleting chamber, if a serious blockage occurs, or if there’s a sudden current overload, the safety pin breaks and triggers a limit switch, cutting power immediately. This not only protects expensive parts like the ring die and rollers – saving you repair costs – but also helps prevent accidents that could injure operators.
Safety
Common Applications
Our alfalfa pellet machine can produce pellets from 4mm to 12mm in diameter – and it’s not limited to just one form of alfalfa. Based on raw material quality, end use, and output requirements, here are several typical scenarios, along with recommended models.
High-Quality Alfalfa – Ruminant Feed Pellets
If you’re harvesting first- or second-cut alfalfa before blooming, the leaves are intact and protein content is high – ideal for cattle and sheep feed. The fiber is relatively uniform, and pelleting is moderate in difficulty. We recommend the CZLH series. For small farms or cooperatives: CZLH320 (0.5–0.6 t/h) or CZLH350 (1.0–1.2 t/h). For medium feed pellet plant projects: CZLH420 (1.8–2.0 t/h). For large commercial feed lines: CZLH520 (2.8–3.0 t/h) and above.
Alfalfa Mixed With Other Forages – Custom Feed Pellets
Some customers mix alfalfa with ryegrass or oat hay to adjust protein and fiber ratios for specific feeding stages. The pelleting characteristics of such mixes fall somewhere in between. We generally still recommend the CZLH series – start with CZLH420 at least, and fine-tune the compression ratio based on your mix.
Low-Moisture Alfalfa Meal – Export-Grade High-Density Pellets
Some orders require alfalfa pellets with a density above 700 kg/m³ and a fines content below 2%. This typically needs secondary grinding and low-temperature conditioning, and it places very high demands on the ring die’s compression ratio and the gearbox’s torque. We recommend CZLH520 or CZLH678, paired with a high-compression-ratio die (1:12 to 1:15), to ensure the pellets are firm and durable for transport.
Production Process of Alfalfa Pellets
You can’t get from alfalfa hay to finished pellets with just a pellet making machine. RICHI machinery uses the pellet machine as the core, but we can supply you with a complete line – from raw material pretreatment to weighing and bagging – so you don’t have to piece it together yourself.
Alfalfa Pellet Plant Project
Below are some real-world examples of alfalfa pellet machines installed and running overseas, and these customers also shared their user experiences. They might give you some useful reference when choosing your equipment.
Service Process
Buying an alfalfa pelletizer isn’t like a simple retail purchase – you don’t just pay and walk away. Whether a large pellet production line actually works well depends on proper planning, quality manufacturing, and reliable after-sales support. Any gap in the process will directly affect your production schedule and profits. RICHI manages everything from initial planning to after-sales, helping you avoid those risks.
Project Experience
30+
Years
Countries and Regions Served
140+
Projects Delivered
2000+
Factory Area
100,000+
㎡
About Us
Henan RICHI Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd., established in 1995, primarily focuses on the research and development and manufacturing of feed machinery, biomass pelleting equipment, organic fertilizer pelleting equipment, and complete pelleting production lines. After more than 30 years of development, RICHI has become a professional pelleting machinery manufacturer. Our products are exported to over 140 countries and regions worldwide, earning the trust of customers both domestically and internationally.
Qualification Advantages
RICHI boasts numerous international authoritative certifications and patents, including ISO9001, CE, SGS, and TÜV. This means that the equipment you purchase can smoothly pass through customs and quality standards in various countries, with no customs clearance risks and compliant delivery. Choosing RICHI means choosing a guarantee of smooth global access and worry-free production.
FAQ
Here are common questions from customers – maybe you’ve got the same ones. Feel free to ask more.
How fine does the alfalfa meal need to be for pelleting?
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We recommend grinding the alfalfa to 2–3mm. That’s the most suitable range. Too coarse, and the pellets will be loose, hard to form, and may even clog the ring die. Too fine, and you’ll get more dust and higher energy consumption. We also sell grinding equipment – normally one pass is enough to reach the required fineness. Just ask us if you need it.
Can I pellet fresh alfalfa directly?
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It’s best not to. Fresh alfalfa needs to be air-dried or machine-dried first. During pelleting, the moisture content should be controlled between 13% and 18%. Our drying equipment can control alfalfa moisture precisely. Fresh alfalfa has much higher moisture – trying to pellet it directly will clog the die.
Will alfalfa lose nutrients after pelleting? I’m using it for animal feed.
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If the pelleting process is done properly, the main nutrients – protein, fiber, etc. – are not destroyed. In fact, pelleting reduces nutrient oxidation losses during storage and transport compared to loose hay. And pellets improve palatability and reduce waste.
Can you customize the machine for my specific output?
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Yes, we absolutely can. Contact us and discuss your needs with our technical team. We’ll customize the alfalfa pellet machine based on output, power, feeding method, level of automation, etc. – from small farms to large processing plants.
Do you sell used lucerne pellet machines?
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No, we don’t. We only provide brand new equipment. That way you get better performance, a longer lifespan, and reliable after-sales support. Used machines have hidden wear – they may break down and require repairs, increasing long-term costs. If your budget is limited, get in touch anyway. Our engineers will do their best to find the most cost-effective solution for you.
After purchasing an alfalfa pellet making machine, can you provide technical guidance?
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Of course! After you buy the alfalfa pellet machine, we not only provide technical guidance – we’ll also provide the process parameters (equipment settings, compression ratio, etc.) for alfalfa pelleting. In addition, we offer 24/7 remote support. If any issue comes up, contact us and we’ll help you resolve it.
