QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF CALORIFIC VALUE IN RELATION TO PROTEIN AND AGE OF EXOTIC MAJOR CARPS OF DARBHANGA REGION

Fishes are well known for a good source of dietary protein, lipid and Carbohydrates. The present study highlights the role of exotic major carps in providing calorific value with respect to protein content and age of fish. Exotic major carps (silver carp, common carp and grass carp) play an important role in Indian aquaculture after the Indian major carps (Rohu, Catla and Mrighal). The present findings on calorific content of exotic carps with reference to protein reveal that it is relatively high being 16.3±1.33 (silver carp), 13.4±0.55 (common carp) and grass carp (12.1±3.14) % /100g as determined by Kjeldahl apparatus. Similarly, the average caloric value content in these fishes, Silver carp (92.09Kcal/100g), Common carp (75.56Kcal/100g) and grass carp (68.96Kcal/100g) is also high. The study shows that the maximum protein content was observed at the age of five months. The study indicates that fish flesh (of three exotic carps) contains a definite high level of protein and can be used as a cheap dietary supplement for protein not only in children but human being in general.