After leaving the pellet mill, the temperature of the pellets

ranges from 70-90° C and the moisture from 15-17%. Proper cooling (via a stream air cooling machine) is required to lower

pellet temperature to about 8° C above the ambient temperature, and moisture % to be 12%. The cooling machine can be either

a horizontal or vertical type. Quick cooling leads to removal of more moisture and heat from the surface of the pellets than

their core, and the resultant pellets will be brittle. On the other hand, prolonged cooling produces very dry pellets that

can be exposed to abrasion and can be of low palatability.