Straw Pellets
Biodela - Your Trusted Source for Biofuels and Animal Bedding Solutions since 2007
Straw pellet Production process
Quality: 100% straw
Diameter: Ø 8 mm
Package: 20 kg bags or 1000kg BigBags
Humidity: 11-13 %
Color: light brown to darker brown
Type of crop: wheat, rape straw (raps)
Purpose of usage: Animal bedding
Straw pellets serve as an excellent alternative to natural hay/straw for animal bedding, particularly for horses and other animals. These pellets are easy to pour and cost-effective to transport over longer distances. They possess similar characteristics to natural straw and are produced solely through mechanical pressing, without the use of additives.
Our main export markets for straw pellets include Germany, Belgium, Sweden, France, Finland, and Austria.
Straw pellet production typically begins at the end of fieldwork in summer, usually in the last weeks of July. After harvesting crops, the leftover straw is collected, pressed into transportable rolls, and stored. Due to its low weight-to-volume ratio, it's practical to transport straw over short distances (~30km). However, for pellet production, straw from nearby agricultural industries is collected. Approximately 1 hectare of crop yields 1.6 - 2 tons of straw.
Once transformed into pellets, straw becomes suitable for long-distance transportation, similar to wood pellets, due to its improved weight-to-volume ratio without compromising its functionality. It's crucial for straw to be clean and free from any chemicals, although rainwater absorbed during field storage may contain dissolved materials. While not harmful to animals, it's not recommended for use as feedstuff due to this potential contamination.
Although various crops like rape, barley, triticale, and rye can be successfully pelletized, wheat is considered the most valuable due to its light color and high absorption value. Straw pellets can also be used for heating purposes, although it's essential to ensure that the boiler is suitable for handling greater amounts of ash and slag.
When used for heating purposes, wheat straw pellets are known to produce the least amount of ash compared to other crops such as rape or rye. Our straw pellets conform to the industry standard norm CEN/TS. The heating values of straw pellets when used as fuel are as follows:
Comparison of calorific value Rape and Wheat straw pellets
Tested by SGS Latvia, certificates: LV1120-0708.1; -0708.2
To maintain the high quality of straw throughout the year, it must be meticulously shielded from rain and adequately ventilated to prevent mold growth. Before the pelletizing process, the moisture content of the straw is measured. Only straw with a moisture content of less than 20% is allowed to proceed to the production line.
The pelletization process comprises four major stages:
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Scratching out the straw rolls
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Cycloning and pressing through the pellet matrix
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Cutting and transporting to the cooling unit
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Pouring into big bags
During the pressing phase, the pellets are subjected to temperatures of 90-95°C, effectively eliminating any biological activity in the straw.
The output from the pelletization line consists of pellets with an 8mm diameter and lengths ranging from 2 to 4 cm. The color of the pellets becomes darker with increased compression due to heat, resulting in a shiny appearance. Normal pellets exhibit a matte finish, with a density of 550 to 600 grams per liter and a yellowish color. Moisture content is consistently below 15%, typically ranging from 11 to 13%. The annual capacity for straw pellets is 6000 tons.
Tips for stables:
When used as bedding, the average intake for a 10m² stable is approximately 1300 kg per year. One truckload of pellets is sufficient for one month for a stable with approximately 2000 m² of floor space.
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Bedding for small animals - Granulate
For smaller animal bedding such as chickens and rabbits, we offer Granulate, a byproduct of straw pellets. Granulate consists of smashed pellets and offers similar or better absorption values compared to normal pellets, albeit with more pieces and a lower volume-to-weight ratio. It is particularly suitable for smaller containers.
Tips for stables:
For a regular horse stall measuring about 9 to 10 square meters, it's recommended to allocate approximately 120 kilograms of bedding pellets per month. Generally, the stall remains clean for a period ranging from 2 to 6 weeks. Therefore, for a complete annual cycle, you'll require approximately 1.3 to 1.5 tons of bedding pellets for one stall.
Packing of Straw pellets
Straw pellets are available in 20kg small bags, as well as 500kg or 1000kg Big bags
The Granulate (smashed straw pellets) can be packed into either 15 kg bags, 500kg or 1000kg Big bags.
Small bags are transparent polyethylene bags without a brand name, heat-welded at the end. Big bags are white polypropylene bags without a brand name, featuring openings on the top and bottom and special handles for lifting with a forklift. Big bags are loaded onto pallets when transported on a hard-sided (fridge) trailer and without pallets when loaded onto a tent (tilt flatbed) trailer.
Logistics of straw pellets: bags and pallets
The 20 kg bags packed onto pallets
The 1100 kg bags, loaded onto a trailer
Straw pellets Quality Management
Straw can be harvested from a variety of crops, but at Biodela, we exclusively use carefully selected, high-quality wheat straw for the production of bedding pellets. Our premium-quality pellets boast low moisture content, a pleasing yellowish color, and are tightly compressed with minimal dust. We refrain from using grass straw to ensure that our pellets do not emit a hay-like odor. Our straw is free from any chemicals, additives, or glues, making it safe for use.
To maintain the quality of the material used for pellet production, it is stored outdoors with ample ventilation and protection from rain during the warm season. As the weather becomes more humid towards the end of the season (spring), we exclusively utilize wheat from covered warehouses to avoid any potential mold formation during pellet production.
Mold is a significant concern for straw pellets, despite the treatment process at temperatures of 90°-95°C during production. Proper warehousing is crucial to prevent mold growth, as straw is highly sensitive to humidity and stagnant air. We strongly recommend following all recommendations for the warehousing and storage of straw pellets to preserve their quality and prevent deterioration.
Usage of Straw pellets
When considering cleaning and replacing pellets, it's important to determine the appropriate amount for spreading. For a standard horse stall measuring 3 x 3 meters, we recommend spreading approximately 100 to 150 kilograms of pellets. Begin by completely removing the old pellets and then evenly distribute the new pellets to cover the entire area. As a guideline, allocate about 12 kilograms per square meter of floor space, ensuring a minimum layer of 5 centimeters. Next, lightly sprinkle water over the pellets to encourage absorption. Use a shovel to thoroughly mix the pellets, ensuring no dry areas remain. Your stall is now prepared for the horse.
Various bedding materials
Straw stands out as an excellent choice for bedding due to its high absorption rate, which is influenced by the material's density and processing level. Despite being readily available and relatively cost-effective compared to alternatives like peat, sawdust, or paper, its lightweight nature presents challenges for transportation and storage. It's essential to note that the drier the straw, the greater the need for robust protection against atmospheric moisture to preserve its quality.
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Bedding material density and water absorption
*liters of water per kilograms of material
Consumption of straw pellets
If you are having regular horse stall of about 9 to 10 square meters, you should calculate a pack of 120 kg for every month. Typically the stall stays clean from 2 to 6 weeks. Hence, for a full year cycle, amount needed for 1 stall is about 1.3 – 1.5 tons.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Technologically, drying straw is not feasible due to its flammability, unlike sawdust. Therefore, the quality of straw pellets is directly influenced by the condition of the straw, which is a dynamic material, particularly susceptible to change towards the end of the season in spring.
Under specific conditions—such as high humidity exceeding 12%, poor ventilation, and temperatures above 15°C—straw pellets may become susceptible to mold growth.
To mitigate any potential issues, we strongly advise the following upon unloading the bags:
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Ensure bags are opened to allow pellets to breathe.
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If feasible, position the bags in well-ventilated areas to prevent moisture buildup both inside and outside the bags.
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Promptly spread the pellets in the stable and lightly moisten them with water.
While the risk of problems is minimal, UAB Biodela is committed to notifying customers of any potential threats. However, our responsibility is limited to 10 days after delivery, as we cannot control storage conditions once the goods have left our premises. Please take note of this, particularly during the spring months from March to June, when straw is older and temperatures are warmer.
An alternative to straw pellets is 100% natural wood pellets, which are slightly more expensive (approximately 15-20 Euro per ton), have a lower humidity (~7%), and come with a mold-free guarantee.
