[Processing and evaluation of fish silage from accompanying fauna of shrimps]

Fish silage for animal feed was produced from a mixture of several fish species belonging to the shrimp by catch. All of them were ground and mixed with formic and sulfuric acids, 3.5% w/w at 1:2; 1:3 and 1:4, respectively, and stored at room temperature for 15 days, to complete liquefaction. The pH, exuded liquid, consistency, soluble nitrogen, total volatile bases, trimethylamine, lipid oxidation by thiobarbituric acid test and microbial count were measured during the 60 days of the storage period. Fish silage was dried and used for biological tests in chicken fed a diet with 6% of silage as a substitute of fish meal. Results of proximal analysis, amino acid profile and mineral content, as well as of the biological test with the dried product, indicated the feasibility of using fish silage as a substitute of traditional fish meal for the chicks included in the trial. This fact, coupled to its simple processing technology, make fish silage adequate for utilization as animal feed.