The importance of colostrum for the survival of neonatal calves and its consequences on their productive and reproductive life has been known for many years. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a colostrum replacer (CR) supplementation in the first 5 d of life on performance and health of dairy calves. Sixty-six 1-d-old female Holstein calves from one herd were assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n = 33 in each group) and received 4 L of colostrum within 4 h after birth. Blood samples were collected from all calves 24 h after the first colostrum intake and used to ensure adequate immunity (serum IgG >10.0 g/L). Calves assigned to the control group received 6 L of milk 3 times daily without colostrum inclusion. A milk replacer (22% protein: 19% fat) was used to increase to 18% total solids in pasteurized milk for the basal liquid diet. The treatment group received 60 g (20/20/20 g) of supplemental CR powder dissolved in the high solids 6 L of milk from d 1 to 5 of life. From d 6, all calves received the same quantity of milk (18% solids) and ad libitum calf starter. After 30 d calves received 4 L twice a day until weaning with 60 d of life. Calves were evaluated daily for disease symptoms and weighed at 30 and 60 d. BW and ADG were analyzed using a mixed model with repeated weight measures by calf, treatment and their interactions as fixed effects with calf birth weight as a covariable; calf within treatment was considered random effect. There was no interaction treatment × period. Independent of periods, calves CR supplemented were 5.1 kg heavier (P < 0.01) and gained 0.08 kg/d more than control (0.86 vs 0.78 kg/d, respectively) at weaning. Even the number of cases of diarrhea almost doubled in non-supplemented calves (13/7), diarrhea occurrence was not significantly different among calves from the treatment and control groups (P = 0.11). Diarrhea was negatively correlated with BW at d 30 and d 60 (P < 0.05), and ADG at d30 and d60 (P < 0.03). Initial serum IgG level had no correlation with any of the studied variables confirming adequate transfer of passive immunity. Calves fed high solids milk supplemented with CR in the first 5 d of life increased BW and ADG before weaning.