<b>Processing yield of Nile tilapia (<em>Oreochromis niloticus</em> Linnaeus, 1757) and pacu (<em>Piaractus mesopotamicus</em> Holmberg, 1887)</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v25i1.2068

Abstract

It has been analysed the processing yield of Oreochromis niloticus and Piaractus mesopotamicus. A total of 20 individuals from each species, presenting a mean weight of 816,0 ± 74,0g and 1958,0 ± 164,0g, and total length of 33.6 ± 1,1cm and 42.4 ± 1,2cm, respectively, for tilapia and pacu. They were killed with thermical shock, weighed, measured, then extracted internal organs and fillets. The fillet yield was higher in pacu (p < 0,01) than those observed in tilapia. These values for pacu were superior (p < 0.01) to tilapia’s. These values were 51.60% for fillet with skin and 46.73% without skin, while for tilapia they were 39.21% and 36.44%, respectively. There were no significant difference for the yield on the visceral carcass and skin between the two species. The percentage for the tilapia’s head (28.34%) was significantly superior (p < 0.01) to pacu’s (16.57%). Individuals with big and long head promoted low fillet yield, as verified for tilapia, and those with small head as pacu, the yield ranges higher values, evidencing the existence of a inverse relationship between the size of the head and fillet yield.