Growth Performance of Weaned Male Albino Rats Fed on Processed Atlantic Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)

Abstract

Trachurus trachurus is a table fish, locally called kote in south-west Nigeria. Fish processing (like poaching and smoking) generates reactive di-carbonyl compounds & poly-aromatic hydrocarbons that affect its digestibility. Study determined the effect of processing methods on growth performance of weaned male albino rats reared on Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus). Chemical analyses were carried out on processed fillet; skin, head & bone (SHB) diets under standard conditions. 40 weaned male albino rats were fed with processed fillet or SHB diets for 14 days to assess protein digestibility via: feed intake, weight gain, feed efficiency ratio (FER), feed conversion ratio (FCR), water intake & faecal output. Animals fed on coal smoked fillet diet had the best growth, in terms of weight gained, FCR & FER respectively; followed by the wood smoked SHB diet (p<0.001) compared to the positive control. The best results were obtained from animals fed the smoked fillet / SHB. The SHB could be a significant source of valuable ingredients for animal feeds & human consumption.

Keywords: Processing methods; Growth performance; Feed Efficiency Ratio; Feed Conversion Ratio; Trachurus trachurus, Agricultural waste / Discards