Nutrient Composition of Coptodonzilliiin the Water Dams in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Résumé

Fish is one of the cheapest sources of animal protein and essential nutrients required in human
diets. The recommendation of Ten (10) samples of Coptodonzilliiwere collected from each of
Ureje, Ero, Egbe and Itapaji dams in Ekiti State, South western, Nigeria and frozen immediately. The
samples were analyzed for proximate composition and contents of amino acids. Coptodonzillii
protein content was not significantly different among the dams but varied between 51.05 to 55.26%
in the order of Ureje>Itapaji>Egbe>Ero dams. The moisture content was similar among the fish
collected from the dams at 25.33-25.95%. The fat content was highestin fish from Itapaji and
Egbedams while fish from Ureje dam contained the highest ash (12.21%). The essential amino acid
analysis revealed that arginine values were not significantly different (P<0.05) among the fish from
Ureje, Ero andEgbe dams; isoleucine was highest in fish from Ureje and not different between Egbe
and Ero dams; leucine was highest at Egbe dam while histidine, methionine, cystine, tyrosine and
valine were not significantly different among the dams. The nutrient composition of
Coptodonzilliivaried with location and was comparable with the limits obtained for other species
which provided the basis for recommending the fish as fit for human consumption.