Short communication SENSORY EVALUATION AND FATTY ACID PROFILE OF NILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS) REARED UNDER DIFFERENT CULTURE FACILITIES

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the sensory evaluation and fatty acid profile of Oreochromis niloticus (mean weight 127±2.03g) reared under three different culture facilities (plastic, sandcrete tanks and earthen ponds), at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. This study was carried out to find out if habitat could influence the nutrient composition of the fish. Standard procedures were used in the analysis of tissue nutrient. Fatty acid profiles of O. niloticus were determined using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in sensory evaluation of O. niloticus reared in plastic, sandcrete tanks and earthen ponds. The percentage of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was higher (50.08%, 21.22%) in earthen pond cultured of O. niloticus than the plastic and sandcrete tanks. The results suggest raising O. niloticus in pond possess nutritional advantages and produce fish with a better fatty acid profile, for the well-being of consumer.