Carcass characteristics of marketable size Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822)

Abstract

The present study investigates carcass traits of market class Hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) to calculate meat yield and provide baseline information for manual/machine processing. Specimens of hilsa fish ranging from 800 to 850 g (820.5±12.1 g) were collected from Howrah, West Bengal fish market. Carcass yield, offal yield and carcass cutability were assessed. The percentage of head yield was recorded 16.3%. Gutted yield and final dressed yield of 820 g market class hilsa was recorded to be 77.9% and 61.6%, respectively. The average meat: bone ratio in filleting and deboning was reported to be 7.2:1. The middle cut of hilsa fish exhibit the highest total yield percentage and highest meat yield. The proximate composition of all three cuts were estimated and found that fore cut of hilsa fish shown highest dry matter, ether extract and protein percentage followed by hind and middle cut.