Abstract:
Genus Hemibagrus or freshwater catfish is the most important food fishes and locally
known as "Baung". The objectives of this study were to analyze the proximate
compositions of Malaysian bagrid catfishes of the genus Hemibagrus and to compare the
differences of nutritional value among the catfishes. The proximate compositions of
Hemibagrus spp. were determined using standard method of analysis. The moisture
content of the Hemibagrus bleekeri, Hemibagrus gracilis and Hemibagrus wyckii fillets
ranged from 78.2 to 81.5% of fresh weight. There was no significant difference among
the species in term of water content in the flesh. The proximate analysis revealed that the
protein content of Hemibagrus bleekeri, Hemibagrus gracilis, and Hemibagrus wyckii
was 16.2, 15.7, and 16.6% of dry weight, respectively. For the protein analysis, there was
a significant difference among the Clarias batrachus-Hemibagrus bleekeri, Clarias
batrachus-Hemibagrus wyckii and also between Hemibagrus gracilis-Hemibagrus
wyckii. The total lipid content was generally high, ranging from 6.8 to 7.5% and crude
ash ranged from 5.1 to 5.7%. The significant difference of ash analysis was shown among
the Clarias batrachus and Hemibagrus spp, while the significant difference in lipid
analysis was shown in Hemibagrus bleekeri-Hemibagrus wyckii and Hemibagrus
gracilis-Hemibagrus wyckii.
