The composition and approximate concentrations of three trace metals - iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg) - of 160 samples of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii (African river prawn) from Badagry creek were investigated for four months across the rainy and dry seasons. Length and weight of the prawns varied from 15.0cm - 17.6cm and 72.76g - 130.65g respectively. The approximate analysis was performed in triplicates and the collected data were analyzed using analysis of variance and T-test. Mean values for protein were 52.18±1.11% (rain) and 43.13±1.13% (dry); lipids were 9.65±0.65% (rain) and 3.50±0.55% (dry); ash were 23.39±1.06% (rain) and 12.00±1.11% (dry); crude fibre were 9.15±0.42% (rain) and 9.35±6.08% (dry); moisture content were 4.08±0.44% (rain) and 31.25±5.23% (dry), and carbohydrate were 1.58±0.07% (rain) and 1.35±0.17% (dry). Protein, ash, moisture and lipids values at different seasons were significantly[KS1] different (p = 0.05). The trace metal values of the species were within the standard recommended range set by World Health Organization. The mean values for zinc (Zn) were 5.10±0.64 (rain) and 5.16±0.27 (dry) mg/100g; magnesium (Mg) – 20.00±1.02 (rain) and 18.00±1.10 (dry) mg/100g and iron (Fe) - 3.03±0.40 (rain) and 2.59±0.39 (dry) mg/100g. There was no significant difference in Zn and Fe contents between seasons (p = 0.05), but the values for magnesium were significantly different (p = 0.05). This study indicated that Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, from Badagry creek, could be very useful as an alternative source of high-quality protein, energy, and mineral supply for human consumption and even for feed formulation for animals because they contain a considerable amount of trace metals.
[KS1]revise P value