Three experiments were conducted to compare dried whey permeate (DWP; 80% lactose) and a carbohydrate product (CHO; 40% lactose, 30% sucrose, and 10% glucose) for nursery pigs. Pigs were fed in a 3-phase feeding program, and diets contained 1.6, 1.4, and 1.2% total Lys for phases 1 (d 0 to 7), 2 (d 7 to 21), and 3 (21 to 28). Dietary treatments included 1) control (no lactose), 2) low level of DWP, 3) high level of DWP, 4) low level of CHO, and 5) high level of CHO. In Exp. 1 (4 reps of 4 pigs per pen; initial BW = 7 kg and 23 d of age), the low and high levels used for each source in each phase were phase 1 (12.5 and 25%), phase 2 (10 and 20%), and phase 3 (6 and 12%). In Exp. 2 (6 reps of 5 pigs per pen; initial BW = 8 kg and 26 d of age) and 3 (4 reps of 4 pigs per pen; initial BW = 6 kg and 21 d of age), the inclusion levels were phase 1 (6 and 12%), phase 2 (3 and 6%), and phase 3 (common diet with no lactose). In Exp. 1, pigs fed diets with DWP or CHO had increased ADG and ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diet during phase 1. Gain:feed was reduced for pigs fed diets with CHO. During phases 2, 3, and overall, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by diet. In Exp. 2, pigs fed diets with CHO had increased ADG and ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diet during phases 1 and 2. Pigs fed diets with CHO had increased ADFI in phases 1 and 2 and increased ADG in phase 2 compared with pigs fed diets with DWP. Overall, pigs fed diets with DWP and CHO had increased ADFI compared with pigs fed the control diet, but ADG was increased for pigs fed diets with CHO. In Exp. 3, ADG, ADFI, and G:F were not affected by DWP or CHO during phase 1. Daily BW gain was increased for pigs fed diets with DWP or CHO during phase 2 compared with pigs fed the control diet. Overall, ADG was increased for pigs fed diets with DWP, but ADFI and G:F were not affected. Results from the combined data of Exp. 2 and 3, indicated that overall ADG and ADFI were increased in pigs fed diets with DWP or CHO compared with pigs fed the control diet. These data suggest that DWP or CHO improve growth performance of weanling pigs.

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