EFFECT OF STORAGE TIME ON FISH FEED STORED AT ROOM TEMPERATURE AND LOW TEMPERATURE

An experiment was conducted to determine the changes of nutritive value of different commercial fish feeds stored at room temperature (25-30°C) and low temperature (5-8°C) for a period of two months by taking biweekly sample. Three most popular fish feeds named Mega fish feed, Quality fish feed and Saudi Bangla fish feed used in the Mymensingh region were selected for the purpose. Throughout the study, physical characteristics and proximate composition of three commercial fish feeds were analyzed. There were no change in color, appearance of moderately bad odour, a little bit of soft texture and broken pellets were found in later stages of the experiment but the overall quality was still acceptable. Along with physical characteristics, changes were occurred in case of proximate composition. In Mega, Quality and Saudi Bangla fish feed, crude protein content was reduced in both the storage conditions. Lipid content also exhibited similar reduction due to storage at both the conditions. Whereas moisture content increased a little bit in the case of room temperature storage and decreased when stored in low temperature (5-8°C). No marked changes had been occurred in other proximate composition like ash, and crude fibre. Declining rate of the quality of fish feeds was higher at room temperature (25-30°C) than low temperature (5-8°C) but the overall quality remained acceptable upto two months storage at both the conditions. It is suggested to use the feed within two months after manufacture. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16473 Progress. Agric. 22(1 & 2): 115-122, 2011