The Hindu Business Line : CIFT develops livestock feed from cuttlefish, squid

SCIENTISTS at the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) have developed a high protein livestock feed from the processing waste of cuttle fish and squid.

They have also successfully addressed the environmental pollution created by fish waste, which is often discarded at waysides and water bodies in Kerala. Annually, one lakh tonne of this fish species are caught and the waste generated from its processing is estimated to be around 30,000 tonnes.

The unpleasant appearance and high moisture content in the waste has made its processing an uphill task for the fish processing units. The units have to spend around Rs 1,000 per kg for the disposal of the waste. The decaying of the waste had also led to air and water pollution besides the nauseating odour in the area where it was dumped.

The new product has been developed by a research team led by Principal Investigator, Mr K.G. Ramachandran Nair, principal scientists, Mr P.T. Mathew and Mr A.C. Joseph, and research fellow, Mr Martin Xavier under the project of the National Agricultural Technology Programme of the Indian Council for Agriculture and Research.

The scientists of the Kerala Veterinary College, Mannuthy, had successfully tested the product as the full replacement of fishmeal in the feed for pigs, ducklings and calf. A private firm in Aroor has started production and trial marketing of the new feed under the brand name Turbo Fish Meal charging Rs 15 per kg.

CIFT scientists estimate that at least 20,000 tonne of feed can be produced annually on full utilisation of the waste. The same process can be used for disposal of fish processing waste also, they say.

The scientists succeeded in creating the new product by applying the principle of lowering pH value of the waste by adding formic acid and allowing it to liquefy by the action of proteolytic enzymes in it. The liquefaction process is completed in four days resulting in a product with pleasant odour.

As squid and cuttle fish are considered superior to other fish varieties due to high lysine and methionine content, the new product will be a better substitute for fishmeal in livestock feed, they say.

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