Comparative Nutritional Composition of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) smoked with melon shell briquettes and firewood

Abstract

The effects of two different energy sources on the quality of smoked C. gariepinus; proximate and mineral compositions were studied. Fish samples collected were smoked using fuel wood and melon shell briquettes in a modified drum smoking kiln. The proximate composition of the samples was determined and the results subjected to statistical analysis using One-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA). There was no significance difference (p>0.05) in their moisture, ash and crude fiber contents. The Significant difference (p<0.05) was recorded in their crude protein, fat and carbohydrate (NFE) content. The total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and Minerals showed no significant difference (p>0.05) except in phosphorus. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mineral composition (sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium) among the smoked fish samples. The recommendation focused on the need for both firewood and melon shell briquettes yielded the best-smoked fish products. Smoking of fish can be done using melon shell briquettes as an alternative source of fuel to reduce energy scarcity and promote environmentally friendly practice in waste management.