Measurement of Morphometric Dimensions and Mechanical Properties of Rohu Fish for Design of Processing Machines

Indian major carps (IMC) viz. rohu, catla, and mrigal are the most important fresh water species. They are marketed locally without post-harvest processing and value addition because of the lack of suitable processing machines. The present study was undertaken to measure the morphometric and mechanical properties of rohu fish for the development of fish processing machinery, and the same can be adjusted for the other IMC. Twenty-five samples of rohu fish (Labeo rohita) were caught, with weight ranging from 290 to 2,100 g (harvestable size). The measured morphometric dimensions were the body depth (10.14 ± 1.63 cm), thickness (5.9 ± 0.85 cm), head length (9.35 ± 1.04 cm), standard length (37.54 ± 4.17 cm), total length (45.89 ± 5.68 cm), and fish backbone thickness (11.2 ± 4.91 mm). Mechanical properties including the angle of repose over steel surface (20°–22°) and plastic surface (18°–20°) were recorded. The maximum power consumption for slicing the fish lengthwise was recorded as 460 W. The measured morphometric and mechanical properties are useful in limiting the adjustments, design of conveyors, capacity, and power requirement of fish processing machines for rohu fish.