Liquid whey in pig feeding

Fresh whey and whey concentrates are valuable by-products and useful to improve economics of pig production. Prerequisites are the formulation of diets according to performance, a sufficient supply with water and an adequate feed limitation. Special attention has to be drawn to hygienic aspects, when whey is fed to pigs. Analyses of fresh whey samples taken in Westphalia show differences to those published in the DLG-Feeding-Tables. Crude ash content was found to be higher, protein and lactose contents were analysed to be lower, indicating that these nutrients are partly extracted. Whey concentrate samples showed higher crude ash contents and lower protein and lactose contents as well. The composition of the sweet whey concentrates used for fattening calves corresponds very well with that of fresh sweet whey according to the DLG-data, when related to dry matter. Large differences in nutrient content were detected in the fresh whey samples which necessitates continuous analyses before diet formulation.