Foram determinados os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da MS, proteína e energia de cinco ingredientes (farelo de soja, glúten de milho, farinha de resíduo de peixe, quirera de arroz e milho) para juvenis de jundiá, Rhamdia quelen (78,5 ± 9 g). A digestibilidade foi estimada pelo método indireto, utilizando-se óxido de crômio na concentração de 0,5% da dieta como indicador, efetuando-se a coleta de fezes a cada 4 horas por sedimentação. Entre os ingredientes testados, os maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade foram obtidos para o glúten de milho (95,0% para proteína, 88,0% para energia e 82,2% para MS) e os menores para o milho (73,0% para proteína, 59,1% para energia e 57,2% para MS). Os demais ingredientes apresentaram valores intermediários de digestibilidade. Obtiveram-se, para o ingrediente energético quirera de arroz, valores de 80,7% para proteína, 64,8% para energia e 60,5% para a MS, enquanto, para os ingredientes protéicos farelo de soja e farinha de resíduo de peixe, os coeficientes de digestibilidade foram, respectivamente, de 88,6 e 77,7% para a proteína, 76,5 e 74,8% para a energia e 73,3 e 58,6% para a MS. Os resultados deste estudo demonstram que juvenis de jundiá, apesar do hábito alimentar onívoro, têm grande capacidade de digerir ingredientes protéicos e relativa dificuldade de digerir ingredientes energéticos, sugerindo que este peixe é onívoro com tendência à carnivoria.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of minced fish (MF) (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%), obtained from Nile tilapia filleting waste, in sausage and determine their physicochemical, nutritional and sensory properties. The sausages showed a decrease in protein and increase in fat content with increasing inclusion of MF. The nutritional quality of the products was high, with digestibility over 85%. The parameters of texture instrumental and yellow color (b*) decreased with the increasing inclusion of MF. The sensory evaluation of the color showed that the maximum level of inclusion of MF was not well accepted by the panelists. The sausage with the best acceptance for the flavor attribute was those with 60% of MF. The results showed good nutritional quality of sausages utilizing MF of Nile tilapia filleting waste and according to the sensory evaluation, the maximum level of inclusion should not exceed 60%.

Filleting yield of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) is low (30%) and generates large amount of wastes that may turn into environmental and economic problem. However, these wastes can be used for the extraction of minced fish (MF) which can be used in the preparation of sausages. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of sausages prepared with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of MF from Nile tilapia filleting waste during storage at 0±0.3ºC. Alterations in the instrumental color (L*, a* and b*), lipid oxidation (TBARS), total volatile nitrogenous bases (TVB-N), pH, microbiological condition (pathogenic bacteria and aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria), and sensory attributes (color, odor, flavor, texture and overall acceptability) were evaluated for up to 40 days. The addition of MF to sausages increased TBARS values and decreases TVB-N, L*, a* and b* values. Acceptability of color attribute decreased with increasing MF; best flavor, texture and overall acceptability scores were registered for sausages containing 40 and 60% MF; best odor was registered for 100% MF. Pathogenic microorganisms were not detected, but decrease in pH and proliferation of aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria which, however, did not compromise sensory evaluation of sausages were registered throughout storage. Sausages prepared with MF from tilapia filleting waste have a shelf-life of 40 days when stored at 0±0.3ºC, and the maximum recommended MF inclusion to maintain good sensory quality is 60%.

This study evaluates the effects of inclusion level (60 to 100%) and washing cycles (0 to 2) of minced fish from Nile tilapia fillet by-products on proximate composition, mineral contents, color, hardness, and sensory acceptance of sausages. A complete 2² factorial experimental design was used. Regression models for protein, fat, moisture, minerals, color, and hardness were developed. The optimum combinations for the independent variables are sausages made with 100% non-washed minced fish, which represents a better use of by-products without generating washing residues, leading to less expensive sausage with higher nutritional value.

Live diet (LD) dependence and the lack of suitable formulated diets (FD) are major constraints for the expansion of larviculture of many fish species. The low digestibility and nutritional quality of FD are factors that might explain their failure as a stand-alone starter food. To determine whether FD in combination with LD (zooplankton) may efficiently increase larval growth and survival of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen), when compared to fish fed by either types of diet alone, jundiá larvae (5.57 mm; 1.41 mg) were initially stocked into 12 10-L aquaria (100 larvae per aquarium). Replicate groups (n=4) were fed ad libitum one of the three diets for 20 (when fed FD) or 48 days (when fed LD or the combined diets). Larvae fed FD alone presented significantly lower survival and growth rates as compared to larvae fed LD or a combination of both (co-fed). In addition, co-fed larvae grew better (170 mg) in relation to those fed solely with LD (110 mg). Such better performance of combined feeding indicates that most of the required nutrients are in balance when both diet sources are included. More can be learned about fish larvae nutrition by further testing the effect of feeding combined diets, which include zooplankton, than only testing new ingredients or protein sources commonly used in the elaboration of juvenile or adult fish feeds.