THE CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF HAPLOCHROMIS AND RASTRANEOBOLA-ARGENTA FISH MEALS

Chemical analyses were conducted on representative samples of fresh Ha plochromis and rastraneobola argenta fish meals. The materials were ob tained from the open market and re-dried at 50 degrees C for 12 hr and ground to a fine consistency prior to the analyses. Haplochromis meal contained 53% protein which was 5.5% lower than that of RastraneoboIa argenta meal. It also contained three times as much calcium and twice as much phosphorus as its counterpart. Rastraneobola meal on the othe r hand contained more fat than Haplochromis meal and had a higher conc entration of the essential amino acids, especially Methionine and lysi ne. Generally the composition of these fish meals were similar to thos e of the other fresh water fish meals reported by March et al. (1967).