Proximate composition of Rastrineobola argentea (Dagaa) of Lake Victoria-Kenya

Proximate composition analysis for crude lipid content, crude protein content, moisture content, total ash content and dry weight of Dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea): a small pelagic fish which constitutes one of the main fish species in Lake Victoria was determined from selected beaches: Paga, Dunga, Rota, Usari and Nduru around Lake Victoria-Kenya. This was done with a view to provide nutritional data to guide food processing, industrial exploitation, preservation and consumption of the fish. On a wet weight basis (wwb), proximate composition values were established as crude protein content, kjedahl and biuret (19.1 - 21.7% and 1.93 - 5.80 mg/ml respectively), lipid content by Dyer and Bligh and Soxhlet (3.87 - 7.78 and 1.77 - 3.40% respectively), ash content (1.88 - 4.38%), ash content on a dry weight basis was (10 - 14.58%) and moisture content of (72.83 - 76.90%). Analysis of these results showed that there were significant differences (p 2%) based on Dyer and Bligh method. The high protein, ash and lipid content of Dagaa make it a nutritionally dense fish. Key words: Dagaa, Lake Victoria, proximate composition.