Megan Thees Research Project Individual Blog #1

Our experiment is to determine if there is a significant difference of protein content in farmed raised organisms versus wild caught organisms of the same species. We will be comparing factory raised chicken (caged) and free-range chicken, farm raised and wild caught shrimp and farm raised and wild caught milk fish. It is our prediction that organisms that are raised in the wild or free-range conditions, will contain higher protein content compared to the same species, farm raised counterpart. 

Silva and Chamul claim that the nutrient profiles of most animals vary under different conditions. Variability is found with and within species, where the animal is harvested (wild or farmed), the season in which they are harvested, environmental conditions, age and feed, among others. Proximate compositions of crude protein for milkfish is 20.53g and shrimp is 20.31g (Silva, Chamul, 2000). Seafood in general is considered with high nutritional quality including, lower levels of fat, saturated fat and cholesterol while high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins and minerals. Research has been done on farmed yellow perch and it’s wild counterpart. It was found that protein content was significantly lower and fat content was significantly higher in farmed yellow perch than wild yellow perch (Gonzalez et. al, 2006). 

J. L. Silva, R. S. Chamul. Composition of Marine and Freshwater Finfish and Shellfish Species and Their Products. In: R.E. Martin, E.P. Carter, G.J. Flick, Jr., L.M. Davis, editors. Marine & Freshwater Products Handbook. Lancaster (PA): Technomic Publishing Company, Inc.; 2000. P. 31-45. 

S. Gonzalez, G.J. Flick, S.F. O’Keefe, S.E. Duncan, E. McLean, S.R. Craig. Composition of farmed and wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Journal of Food Composition an Analysis. March 2006; Volume 19 (issue 6-7): 720-726.