The goal of the study was to find impact of water receiving method on the growth, health, and cross-sucking of calves. Sixty-three calves were kept in hutches to weaning at the age of 8 weeks. The experiment lasted from April to November. Calves drink mothers milk ad libitum from a bucket with nipple from d 2 to 4. From d 5, they received 6 kg of milk replacer per day divided into 2 portions, concentrate and alfalfa hay ad libitum. Calves were divided according to the water delivery into 3 groups: nipple sucking from bucket (A), drinking from bucket (B), and without delivery water (C). Feed and water refusals were removed and weighed. Blood samples for analysis of white and red blood pictures were taken every week. The methods of Larson (1977) for the evaluation of diarrhea and respiratory condition were used. After weaning the calves were moved to loose housing pens. Their social behavior was observed until the age of 6 mo individually. The data were analyzed using an ANOVA. We not found significant difference among groups in the average daily gains and feed intakes. Daily gains were the highest in group A (A 0.46 kg, B 0.43 kg, C 0.43 kg). A group of calves drank up more water to the weaning than B group (69.39 kg vs 50.72 kg), and group A had the highest intake of starter mixture (A 14.43 kg, B 11.30 kg, C 13.31 kg). The highest alfalfa hay consumption was found in group C (A 21.34 kg, B 22.26 kg, C 23.59 kg). Neither calf died or was culled for bad health. There were no water delivery effects for blood measurements. The faces had liquid consistency during the first weeks, rather than a firm one. Color showed a steadily trend from yellow to green and consistency changed smoothly from liquid to normal. We did not find significant differences between groups in the cross-sucking after weaning. The willingness to be sucked was the highest in calves from group A (P < 0.001). The results did not show a negative effect of water shortage. However, we cannot recommend the water intake just as part of the milk replacer on the basic of this experiment. This study was funded by APVV 15-0060 and QK1910438.