COMPARATIVE PROXIMATE BODY COMPOSITION OF WILD CAPTURED AND FARM CULTURED Cirrhinus mrigala.

The purpose of present study was to analyze and compare the nutritional values of wild captured and farm cultured Cirrhinus mrigala. The proximate composition of fish meat, head, scales, fins and skin were examined in this study. From both sources (wild and farm), 42 fish specimens were collected and divided into three diffe rent we ight categories i.e. ≤500 g, 501-1000 g and 1001-1500 g and designated as W1, W2 and W3 for wild and F1, F2 and F3 for farm cultured fish respectively. The farm cultured species were found to have significantly (p<0.05) higher nutrients than its wild counterpart. Wild fish species showed high moisture (%) in all body parts selected in this study as compared to farm cultured fish species. The protein and fat contents in farm cultured C. mrigala were observed significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared to wild captured fish species. It was found that although scales and fins of both wild captured and farm cultured fishes were not consumed directly by human beings but they have considerable amount of nutrients. Ash (%) was observed significantly (p<0.05) higher in those body parts that have large bone matrix e.g. head, scales and fins of both wild captured and farm cultured C. mrigala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]