Abstract:
In the recent years the small pelagic fish (Rastrineobola argentea) locally known as Omena in Kenya, Mhkene in Uganda and Dagaa in Tanzania, has aroused a lot of interest as a protein source for both human and non—ruminant animals, mainly poultry and pigs. A study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive. value and the potential of R. argentea fishmeal (REM) as a protein and an essential amino acid (lysine) source for broiler chickens. RFM processed from fish caught at different locations along the shores of Lake Victoria were analysed for proximate and amino acid compositions. The results showed that the size of the whole fish (2-7 cm body length) does not effect the proximate composition of the fishmeal However RFM from different locations (landing beaches) differed significantly in their proximate composition. The mean proximate composition was DM, 90.06%; CP, 57.10%; Ash, 10.56%; BE, 12.39% and CF; 1.11%. The amino acid composition showed differences only in proline and leucine. A feeding trial was conducted where RFM was included at 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12% replacing Soybean meal (SBM) in broiler diets. The diets with RFM elicited significantly better weight gains, feed intake and feed conversion, which increased with increase in the RPM levels. Broiler chicks fed on a diet with high level of RPM (89.3%) grew normally after taking 5 days to adapt to the diet and had normal organs when they were killed and their organs compared to those of other chicks fed on diets with low levels of, or without RFM. This indicated that REM had no adverse effect on broiler chickens. The bioavailability Of lysine from RPM was estimated using a chick bioassay and found to be 97.33% which indicate little or no damage to lysine during RPM processing. The high protein content, the essential amino acid profile, the performance of broiler chicks on RFM and the high bioavailability of lysine in RFM,all indicate the high potential this fishmeal has as a source of protein and essential amino acids in poultry diets. It was concluded that RFM can effectively replace other fishmeals in these diets.
