EQUAÇÕES DE PREDIÇÕES DOS PESOS DOS PRODUTOS GERADOS COM O PROCESSAMENTO DE TILÁPIA: OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS

Abstract

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stands out for its versatility, ease of cultivation, and high feed conversion efficiency, making it an important source of protein due to its rapid growth and adaptability. The objective was to develop prediction equations for the weights of the carcass, head, and fillet based on morphometric measurements and body weight of tilapia, generating relevant scientific information for the production chain. The experiment was conducted with 1,266 juvenile tilapia in a recirculation system, monitoring water quality and performing periodic biometric measurements. Statistical analyses involved applying multiple regression with the Stepwise procedure for variable selection, followed by multicollinearity analysis. The models were validated with determination coefficients above 90%, indicating high precision. The positive and negative regression coefficients of the independent variables (body weight and morphometric measurements) indicated the direction and magnitude of their influence on the weights of body parts. The validation of the models reinforced the accuracy of the predictive equations, making them robust tools for estimating the weights of carcass, head, and fillet in tilapia. The results demonstrated that body weight and morphometric measurements are effective predictive variables, allowing the equations obtained to be used by producers, processing industries, and genetic improvement programs as a non-invasive and efficient tool for predicting tilapia body weights.