PERFORMANCE, COMPOSITION AND SENSORY QUALITY OF ADULT CHANNEL CATFISH(ICTALURUS-PUNCTATUS) FED A DRIED WASTE EGG PRODUCT

The growth and carcass quality of adult channel catfish (176 mm, 76 g average length and weight) fed diets (6000 fish/diet) containing 14% a nd 28% dried, inedible whole egg were compared to similar fish fed a c ommercial or a formulated diet containing fish meal as the primary pro tein source. After 4 months, the fish fed 28% dried egg diet were 5-8% longer and 17-31% heavier, and had consumed 0.06-1.11 lb feed per lb weight gain less than fish fed the other diets. Fish fed the egg diets had 0.9-1.2% less dress-out and 0.3-2% more visceral cavity fat than fish fed the non-egg diets. Diets containing eggs did not affect the s ensory quality or shear press values of the cooked fish fillets.