[Fish silage from shrimp by catch fish: I. Preparation and biological evaluation]

Fish silage was prepared from some fish species of the shrimp by-catch caught in Golfo Triste, Carabobo, Venezuela. Fish were ground until a particle size that would guarantee the liquefaction process was achieved. The process was accelerated by the incorporation of a 3.5% w/w acid mixture, formed by diluted sulfuric acid (1:3) and concentrated formic acid, in a proportion of 1:4. The silage process occurred spontaneously at room temperature during 17 days. Chemical, physical and microbiological tests were conducted in order to characterize both the raw material and the final product. The raw material used had adequate levels of freshness, so that it was suitable for use, thus producing a first-grade silage. A first biological evaluation was carried out in rats in order to estimate the protein quality of the silage by means of certain biological parameters such as PER, NPR and apparent digestibility percentage of the protein. The results of the first experimental period demonstrated that the fish silage protein was of optimal quality, since the biological response in rats was similar to that of the control group fed the casein diet.