1. The effects on food intake and weight gain of offering broiler chickens (2 to 7 weeks of age) dry food, wet food, wet food containing whey, whey as drinking liquid and combinations of two of these were studied in 5 experiments. 2. Wet feed generally improved both weight gain and feed efficiencies significantly. Feeding whey also improved weight gain and feed conversion efficiency, but whey offered as a drinking fluid had an adverse effect on broiler performance. 3. When whey was offered both as drinking liquid and added to the food it had a deleterious effect. 4. When whey was offered from 4 or 6 weeks of age, it had a better effect than when offered from 2 weeks of age. 5. There was better performance when whey in the drinking water was diluted and/or offered on alternate days or half-days. 6. Broilers allowed to choose between wet and dry feed when water was freely available chose mostly dry feed; in the absence of drinking water they chose mostly wet food. Birds offered water and liquid whey avoided whey completely. 7. It is concluded that whey can be used in diets for broiler chickens by incorporating it in the food as long as drinking water is offered ad libitum. Whey may be offered as a drink if the food is mixed with 1.8 times its weight of water but it is better to dilute the whey with an equal volume of water whether it is added to food or given as drink. Good results can also be obtained when undiluted whey is offered alternately with water, either in half-day or full-day periods.

Twelve ruminally, duodenally, and ileally cannulated (average initial BW 313 +/- 20 kg) and 27 intact Hereford heifers (average initial BW 256 +/- 17 kg) were used in two experiments to evaluate dairy food wash water solids (WWS) as a protein source in medium-quality hay diets. Heifers received a basal diet of orchardgrass hay (7.4% CP) and were assigned to one of three supplement treatments: control (C;.9% CP), WWS (18.8% CP)-, and soybean meal (SBM 19.1% Cp)-based supplements (fed at 1.5 kg of DM/d). Supplements were formulated to have similar ME concentrations. Ruminal ammonia concentrations were greater (P <.10) for WWS- and SBM-supplemented heifers than for C heifers at most sampling times. Moreover, WWS and SBM increased (P < .10) total VFA (mM) and acetate (mol/100 mol) and lowered propionate (mol/100 mol) at several sampling times. Ruminal fluid volume (liters) was unchanged (P > .10) by treatment; however, fluid dilution and flow rate (liters/h) were less (P < .10) in C heifers than in heifers fed SBM or WWS supplements. Wash water solids and SBM supplementation increased (P < .10) OM, NDF, and ADF digestibilities compared with C heifers. Feeding WWS and SBM supplements increased BW at 84 d (P < .10) compared with C-supplemented heifers. Forage intake at 54 and 84 d by heifers supplemented with SBM or WWS was greater (P < .10) than by C heifers. Control-supplemented heifers had the least, WWS intermediate, and SBM the greatest ADG at 84 d (P < .10; .14 vs .35 vs .48 kg/d, respectively). These data indicate that WWS may be used as a protein source without serious adverse effects in heifers consuming medium-quality hay for 84 d.