Comparative Evaluation on Nutritive Value of Wild and Farmed African Catfish Clarias gariepinus

Abstract

ABSTRACT The percentage yield, fillet chemical composition and mineral elements of wild and farmed male and female African catfish Clarias gariepinus are presented. Farmed males yielded 42.73% fillets compared to 49.86% for wild males, 51.11% for wild females and 46.86% for farmed females. Female gonadal mass strongly influences dressout percentage. Result of proximate composition as percentage in moisture, fat, ash, crude protein, dry matter, nitrogen free extract were examined as parameters of fish flesh quality in both farmed and wild sample. The fillets of both farmed and wild males and females have significantly different in moisture (72.8% and 75%), dry matter (26.7% and 25%), protein (30.9% and 30.9%), Ether extract (8.4% and 8.1%), ash (1.7% and1.3%), nitrogen free extract (31.9 % and 34.5%) farmed and wild. But the chemical composition profiles within type were not influenced by sex. Levels of the Macro elements (mg/l), phosphorus, potassium, manganese, sodium and calcium, and micro elements (mg/l), iron and Zinc different significantly between type and between sexes within type. No significantly differences were noted for calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and potassium .The mineral content of Clarias gariepinus fillets; farmed and wild (mg/L wet weight fillet) as percentage is Ca (4.02 and 4.32); P (2.87 and 2.80); Mg (2.65 and 2.56); Na (4.32 and 4.34); K (3.76 and 4.07); Fe (1.72 and 1.09) and Zn (0.096 and 0.097), Standard method of AOAC (1990).