Carcass Characteristics of Farmed Medium Carp Hypselobarbus pulchellus (Day, 1878)

Abstract

The carcass quality traits of an endemic carp,
Hypselobarbus pulchellus, were assessed to determine
its flesh yield and quality. Fish were stocked at 5000
no. ha-1 in 0.1 ha earthen composite aquaculture
ponds with a mean temperature of 24.6°C and given
supplementary feed once daily. Fish weighing
between 1.8-2.5 kg were assessed for carcass and
offal yields as well as carcass cutability, organoleptic
evaluation and proximate composition. Dressed fish
(n=10) were cut at three median places to yield head,
first, second and third body sections. The fish had
a length of 48.2±6.4 cm and weight of 2.1±0.71 kg
with a condition factor (K) of 3.5±0.7. The second
body section (BS) of the fish had the maximum girth,
area and weight followed by first and third body
sections. The girth, area and weight of the three BS
were linearly proportional to the weight of the fish
but not to its length. The variations in the characteristics
were also higher in the bigger sections. The
three body sections constituted 64% of the weight
of fish, while the offal and head comprised 26 and
10% respectively. Mean yield on dressing of fish was
70% with a meat: bone ratio of 3.27. There were no
differences between the first, second and third body
sections in their proximate composition. Brine
cooked sections evaluated by a panel were not
significantly different in taste. The fish had a
proximate composition of 73.2±0.7% moisture,
23±0.6% protein, 5.3±1.6% fat and 1.4±0.2% ash.