Transition milk (TM, defined as milk from the 2nd through 4th milkings after calving) supplies additional fat, protein and immunoglobulins to the calf compared with traditional milk replacer. Our objective was to determine if feeding TM on d 2 through 4 of life increases growth rate and overall health of calves. Starting on d 1 of life, Holstein heifer calves on a commercial farm were fed 1 of 3 diets (n = 35/diet): milk replacer (MR), transition milk (TM), and a 1:1 by weight mix of milk replacer and colostrum replacer (MR+CR, positive control). Transition milk was harvested from Holstein cows on the farm, pooled and pasteurized at 161°F for 15 s. Nutrient composition of TM was 3.79% fat, 6.10% protein, and 14% solids. MR and MR+CR were administered at 14 and 15% solids respectively. Over a 4-mo period from June through September, newborn calves were blocked by age and assigned to 1 of 3 treatments. All calves received colostrum replacer for the first 2 feedings after birth. Subsequently, calves were fed 1.9 L of MR, TM or MR+CR 3 times per day for 3 d. After treatments were complete at 4 d of age, calves were fed and managed similarly. Body weights, blood samples and daily health scores (scale of 0 to 3) were collected through weaning at 56 d of age. All but one calf achieved successful passive transfer of immunity with serum IgG values over 10.0 mg/ml. Daily BW gain for the first 3 wk of life was 0.41, 0.49, and 0.45 kg/d for MR, TM, and MR+CR groups respectively; thus, calves fed TM and MR+CR gained 0.06 kg/d more than those fed MR (P = 0.06) with no difference for MR+CR compared with TM. From birth through weaning, calves fed TM and MR+CR calves tended to gain 2.5 kg more total BW than those fed MR (34.3, 33.9, and 31.6 kg, respectively; P = 0.06). When comparing MR with TM and MR+CR, treatment did not alter health scores for ears (0.11, 0.14, and 0.12 MR, TM, and MR+CR, respectively; P = 0.55), eyes (0.03, 0.007, 0.019; P = 0.15), and feces (0.30, 0.37, 0.35; P = 34). In conclusion, feeding transition milk for 3 d after first colostrum increased growth rate of calves throughout the preweaning period and produced similar effects on growth and health as milk replacer supplemented with colostrum replacer.