Shandong Guangtong Silkworm Seed Co., Ltd.

“The veteran” truly has solid skills, and the feed hopper renovation saves costs.

Automatic feeders are essential machinery for improving labor efficiency in silkworm farming. This year, Liu Yincun and Mu Zhenduo, these two The “veteran” model has undergone multiple improvements to the original automatic feeder’s functions, all of which have delivered excellent results in production applications.

Recently, as feed-based sericulture techniques have gradually matured, new insights have emerged regarding the optimal size of fifth-instar feed strips. Experimental comparisons have shown that the improved feeding method not only results in robust silkworms that are easier to keep moist, but also simplifies operations and saves labor and time. However, the original first-generation feeder had a feed-dispensing aperture of only The original width of 2.5 cm had to be widened to 6–7 cm to meet the design requirements for the coarse-feed chute. Given that the iron feed chute weighs more than 300 kg, with a stainless-steel plate thickness of 3.5 cm at the discharge opening, and considering the chute’s large volume, deep opening, and high hardness, the retrofit was extremely challenging. After cost estimation, the project would exceed RMB 5,000, yet multiple fabrication shops declined to take on the job. Meanwhile, the second batch of silkworm eggs had already developed to the third instar, leaving only 6–7 days before the fifth instar stage—meaning tight deadlines and a heavy workload. Faced with this dilemma, Liu Yincun and Mu Zhenduo, both seasoned veterans, conducted extensive research and decided to undertake the chute modification themselves. They borrowed a lift to carefully lower the chute piece by piece, then gathered tools such as steel saw blades, angle grinders, and electric drills. Working painstakingly, like ants gnawing at a bone, they steadily cut and grind, one small step at a time. The work site was awash with flying sparks and metal shavings; they had to proceed with utmost care to prevent the saw blade from breaking while maintaining precise, straight cuts. Moreover, the handheld grinder would heat up and become scalding after just half an hour of continuous use, requiring cooling before operations could resume. After three days of relentless effort, they finally succeeded in “chipping away” at this tough challenge, achieving the required widening of the feed chute.

Liu Yincun and Mu Zhenduo, these two The “veteran” staff’s admirable traditions of self-awareness, dedication, sense of responsibility, and willingness to step up—coupled with a relentless pursuit of excellence in their work—are truly worthy of respect and deeply moving. Moreover, their outstanding professional conduct demonstrated across numerous maintenance and renovation projects, including the repair of lotus-pot well systems, the installation of feed-processing equipment, and the upgrading of silkworm-farming facilities, has earned them high praise from leaders of the relevant authorities.