Consumption, apparent digestibility and nutrient balance of diets with bovine milk whey for goats

Increasing milk production in countries such as Brazil, India and Pakistan implies the generation of daily by-products such as nutrient-rich bovine whey which, if used in feeding small ruminants would reduce enviromnental waste and add value to this by-product. Twenty entire male kids weighing an average 17 kg and 5 months age were used. The diet control was composed by Aruana hay, milled whole maize, pelleted soybean and limestone. Bovine cheese whey at 1.5; 3.0 and 4.5% (DM basis) was added to experimental diets. Variables measured included intake, nutrient apparent digestibility, energy balance, and nitrogen balance. Regression equations and Pearson correlations (P