The effects of feeding liquid acid whey in the diet of lactating dairy cows on milk production and composition

Eighteen Holstein dairy cows averaging 141 days in milk were used in a complete randomized design to determine the effects of feeding liquid acid whey (LAW) on milk production and composition. Animals received a diet consisting of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum., L), wheat straw and concentrate (Control). Treatments were control and control plus 40 liters/cow/day of LAW. Daily individual Dry Matter Intake (DMI) and milk production were measured. Diet digestibility was determined using the total collection method. Results showed that LAW increased (P<0.05) DMI. However, in vivo dry and organic matter digestibilities were not affected by whey feeding. 4% fat corrected milk (FCM) and milk fat and protein yields were higher (P<0.05) for cows fed the whey (15.4 and 14.6 kg/day and 592 vs. 555 g/day and 486 vs. 462 g/day for milk and yields of milk fat and proteins, respectively). Milk composition was similar (P>0,05) for both treatments. It can be concluded that including LAW in dairy diets, in a partial replacement of the concentrate, significantly improved FCM and milk fat and protein yields without affecting milk composition.