Bühler Southern Africa will showcase its approach to precision feed milling at the AFMA Forum 2026, taking place at Sun City from 8 to 10 September. During a panel discussion, Oliver Brägger, Sales Manager, Value Nutrition at Bühler Group, will discuss how real-time data, automation and process optimisation can help feed manufacturers manage raw-material variability, improve feed consistency and increase production efficiency.
Maintaining consistent nutritional specifications can be challenging when the quality of key raw materials, including grains, changes between batches. Variations in raw-material composition can affect formulation accuracy, feed quality and production costs.
Precision feed milling addresses this challenge by combining real-time monitoring, inline analytics and automated process control. Rather than relying solely on fixed assumptions about raw materials, manufacturers can use production data to adjust processes and formulations as conditions change.
“Precision feed milling is about moving from reacting to variability to actively managing it in real time,” said Brägger. “By turning data into actionable insights, manufacturers can make better decisions, improve feed consistency and maximise the value of available raw materials.”
Real-time monitoring and automated control
Bühler’s approach integrates sensor technology, inline analytics and digital process controls to provide continuous information on raw materials and production conditions. This data can support automated formulation and recipe adjustments, helping mills respond more effectively to variability during production.
The technology is designed to provide greater visibility across the milling process while enabling operators to make faster, data-driven decisions. Optimised control algorithms can also help improve the use of raw materials, energy and other production resources.
Supporting feed safety and quality
Raw-material variability can also introduce feed safety challenges. Optical sorting technologies can help identify and remove materials affected by contaminants such as mycotoxins before they enter the production process.
“Feed safety starts at the feed mill, where contaminated raw materials can be identified and removed before they enter the production process,” Brägger said.
Combining raw-material monitoring with sorting and process-control technologies can provide manufacturers with additional tools for managing contamination risks while maintaining nutritional and quality requirements.
Digitalisation and production efficiency
Digitalisation is becoming increasingly important in feed manufacturing as producers seek greater control over production costs, resource use and product consistency.
Bühler’s precision feed milling approach combines equipment, sensors, plant-operation systems and production data to improve visibility and process control. Real-time data can be used to identify changes in production conditions and support automated optimisation.
For feed manufacturers, the potential benefits include more consistent feed quality, improved raw-material utilisation, reduced process variability and more efficient use of energy and other resources.
The technology focus also aligns with the wider role of feed manufacturing in the food chain. With feed positioned between agricultural production and animal protein, improvements in feed quality and manufacturing efficiency can contribute to more efficient and resilient food production.
At the AFMA Forum 2026, Brägger will discuss how real-time data, automation and process optimisation can be applied to address raw-material variability and improve performance in modern feed mills.
