The effect of an accelerated-growth feeding protocol (AGFP), based on pasteurized waste milk, was evaluated in Holstein dairy calves under tropical conditions. Sixteen individually housed Holstein calves were use in the study. The control and AGFP groups consisted of 8 Holsteins (4 males and 4 females). The experimental period lasted 7 weeks. The control group was always fed 2 L of milk at 0600 h and 2 L of milk at 1800 h. The AGFP group was fed progressively more milk (divided equivalently in 2 feedings at 0600 h and 1800 h) with 4.0, 4.74, 5.68, 6.62, and 7.56 L from week 1 through 5, respectively. Then at wk 6, milk was reduced to 5.68 L and to 3.32 L at wk 7. Both groups were fed the same amount of calf starter that contained 18% CP; 2.5% fat; 8% CF; 14% ADF; 1.5% Ca; 0.5% P; 0.20 ppm Se; 2,273 IU/kg vitamin A; and 66 g/Tm of Lasalocid. The amount calf starter offered was progressively increased (divided equivalently in 2 feedings at 0600 h and 1800 h) with 0.23 kg (wk 1 and 2), 0.45 kg (wk 3), 0.68 kg (wk 4) and 0.91 kg (from wk 5 through 7). There was a treatment by sex interaction (P = 0.051). Although total average weight gain (wk 1 through 7) in females was not different (P = 0.999), in male calves total average weight gain was 14.25 vs 27.5 kg, for the control and AGFP groups, respectively (P = 0.048). Because all animals were exposed to identical experimental conditions, it is unclear why only male Holstein calves responded to the AGFP and further research is granted.