This study aimed to evaluate the intake, performance and incidence of diarrhea in Holstein dairy calves, besides perform the technical and economic analysis of the artificial fed milk conventional and fractionated. Were used 22 animals, 12 males and 10 females, with an average initial of body weight of 37.26kg (±3.42), allotted in a randomized block design housed in individual pens until 59 days old of animals. The feed milk conventional consisted of four liters of milk daily for 59 days and fractionated, six liters of 6º to 25º, four liters of 26º to 45º and two liters of 46º to 59º days old, besides of starter, hay Cynodon sp., water and mineral supplement provided ad libitum. The food consumption and incidence of days with diarrhea were monitored daily and the animals were weighed and measured weekly. The consumption data, daily weight gain, measures of growth, feed conversion and the incidence of days with diarrhea were analyzed in split plot. The total gain and final body weight were analyzed in a randomized block design. The initial body weight was used as a covariate. The nursing system did not affect (p>0.05) hay and water intakes, and animal performance. The fractionated breastfeeding provided greater (p<0.05) dry matter total intake of in the third period of evaluation and lowest cost per kilogram of total weight gain, indicating it is a best strategy as in dairy cattle.
cattle; diarrhea; economic analysis; milk; weight gain