Analysis of Proximate Composition of Shingi Fish (Heteropneustes fossilis) Fed with Poultry Offal Protein-Rich Formulated Feed under Captive Conditions

The experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of poultry offal protein-rich formulated feed on the proximate composition of shingi fish (Heteropneustes fossilis) using four treatments and three replications over 60 days. By using the method of AOAC, dry matter (DM), moisture, crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), and total ash were measured to observe the composition of shingi fish after feeding formulated feed. According to the study, shingi fish fed four distinct poultry offal-formulated feeds—Diet-1 (30% FM + 0% POM), Diet-2 (20% FM + 10% POM), Diet-3 (10% FM + 20% POM), and Diet-4 (0% FM + 30% POM)—had their proximate compositions changed. During the first phase, shingi fingerlings' proximate composition was ascertained to be 80.15% moisture, 19.85% dry matter, 58.51% crude protein, 13.02% ash, and 10.21% crude fat. After culturing with different formulated diets, the mean values of moisture, dry matter, crude protein, total ash, and crude fat were found 78.54%, 21.48%, 60.47%, 13.14%, and 12.04%, respectively. The study found significant variations (p<0.05) in proximate composition between fingerling Shingi and those cultured with poultry offal-formulated diets. Among the formulated feds, diets-4 displayed the highest amount of crude protein (62.12%) and the lowest ash contents (12.14%) while Diet 3 contained the highest amount of dry matter (22.89%), ash (12.41%), and lipid contents (13.98%). The study suggests that poultry offal prepared-fed could be a low-cost, locally accessible protein substitute for fish meals that would also help sustainably farmed fisheries to boost fish yield.