Authors : Oyedapo Adewale Fagbenro , Mosunmola Olajire Akinbulumo , Oluwayemisi Eunice Adeparusi and Ameenat Abiodun Raji
Abstract: Four west African freshwater food fishes namely Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Gymnarchus niloticus and Malapterurus electricus, were analysed for their flesh yield, waste yield, proximate and mineral composition, with a view to obtain their utilization potentials. Proximate composition revealed their crude protein, crude lipid and ash as 66.66, 18.7 and 6.39% in C. gariepinus; 69.30, 19.67 and 5.96% in H. bidorsalis; 66.66, 18.74 and6.39% in G. niloticus; 66.66, 18.74 and 6.39% in M. electricus, respectively. The total flesh obtainable ranged from 70.57 to 81.62% in C. gariepinus; 75.34% to 84.23% in H. bidorsalis; 70.57 to 81.62% in G. niloticus; and 70.57 to 81.62% in M. electricus. Waste yield was 29.43% in C. gariepinus, 24.67% in H. bidorsalis, 29.43% in G. niloticus, and 24.67% in M. electricus. The sizes of the four fish species did not significantly affect the proximate composition of their flesh.
Oyedapo Adewale Fagbenro , Mosunmola Olajire Akinbulumo , Oluwayemisi Eunice Adeparusi and Ameenat Abiodun Raji , 2005. Flesh Yield, Waste Yield, Proximate and Mineral Composition of Four Commercial West African Freshwater Food Fishes . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4: 848-851.