Ensiling cuttlefish wastes for use as fish feed ingredient

Abstract

The disposal of cuttle fish processing waste is becoming a major problem for the seafood processing industries in India. Formic acid fish silages and fermented fish silages were prepared using the waste. The silage preparations were stored for 90 days. Samples were drawn on 0,2,3,5,7,14,30,60 and 90th days of storage. The pH and various biochemical parameters like, total nitrogen (TN), non protein nitrogen (NPN), total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), tri methyl amine (TMA) and peroxide value (PV) were carried out. Microbial analyses, viz., total plate count (TPC) and most probable number (M.P.N) of coliforms were carried out for formic acid fish silage preparations, whereas for fermented fish silage preparations, acid producing bacterial count (APBC) and M.P.N of coliforms were determined. All the combinations of fermented fish silage preparations studied, preserved well. A pH of not more than 3.8 was necessary for the formic acid fish silage to be preserved for 90 days. All the silages, which preserved well, were used for making fish feed. The pelletised feeds were fed to common carp tCyprinus carpio) fingerlings. The feeds were consumed by the fishes within 15 minutes of feeding.