- Stored material
- Compound feed, meal, pellets or blends
- Identify
- Exact feed and previous products
- Cleaning concern
- Retained material and cross-contamination
- Check separately
- Dust, access and outlet equipment
Feed formulation and previous contents
Feed silos may contain pellets, meal or blended products with different ingredients and physical behaviour. Formulation matters because residue carried into the next batch can affect hygiene, nutrition or contamination controls.
The previous and next products need to be considered together. A silo that looks clean may still fall short of the site’s changeover standard where the formulation or hygiene controls require more.
Retained feed and flow problems
Caking, storage time, moisture and discharge faults can all leave material behind. The position and condition of the deposit help distinguish ordinary residue from a wider flow or equipment problem.
Material retained at height or bridged above an outlet can fall without warning. The cleaning method must account for that hazard and should not rely on disturbing the retained mass from directly beneath it.
Dust and cleaning method
Dust behaviour needs to be assessed for the feed being handled, including whether it can form a combustible atmosphere. Residue should be recovered without unnecessary dust spread, using equipment suited to the installation.
Whether water is suitable depends on the silo material, drainage arrangements and the drying standard before refill. Conveying and discharge equipment involved in the work also needs isolation, while any confined-space entry requires separate competent assessment.
Hygiene before the next batch
The operator’s feed-hygiene controls determine the required condition before refill. At hand-back, it should be clear which areas were cleaned, which points were inaccessible and whether damaged components or mechanical defects remain outside the cleaning work.