A Comparative Approach to Sustainable Fish Meal: Prussian carp meal (Carassius gibelio Bloch, 1782)

Abstract

In this study, the usability of Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) meal (PCM) as an alternative animal protein source in fish feeds was investigated by comparing anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) meals with biochemical, fatty acid, amino acid and element compositions. Prussian carp were obtained by fishing and made into a meal (PCM), anchovy (AM), and sprat (SM) meals were taken from a commercial company. At the end of the study, the total, essential, and non-essential amino acid values of PCM were lower than AM and SM (P < 0.05). The PUFA and Omega-6 values of PCM were higher than AM and SM; and lower than SFA, Omega-3, EPA, DHA, AI, FLQ values (P < 0.05). According to the element analysis, the P and Ca values of the PCM were higher than the AM and SM (P < 0.05), and the Na, K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se values were lower. As a result of the study, it was concluded that PCM could be used in the feed sector in order to increase the sustainability of the fish meals used in feed production, reduce the foreign dependency on vegetable and fish meals, and reduce feed costs.