Method for Calculating the Calcium and Phosphorus in Menhaden Fish Meal from the Analysis of Total Ash

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONSOME manufacturers of mixed feeds have neglected the potential cost advantage to be obtained by taking into account the calcium and phosphorus contents of fish meals in calculating their formulations. This neglect may derive from the fact that the calcium and phosphorus contents vary among fish meals with the result that time-consuming analyses of each lot would be required. The variation in calcium and phosphorus contents stems from differences in the raw materials and in processing. Notable among the differences in processing are the manufacture of two types of fish meal: (a) “regular” meals, in which soluble solids are removed, and (b) whole meals, in which some or all of these soluble solids are added back to the meal.1Other feed manufacturers have considered the more easily analyzed total ash content of fish meals as an index of the calcium and phosphorus contents, on the assumption that these minerals …