Five groups of seven Friesian bull calves received different combinations of soybean flour (5), whey powder 0N), and preserved colostrum (C) until weaning at 30 days of age. A complete diet was available ad lib. from 4 days of age. After weaning, until 3 months of age, only the complete diet and water were available ad lib. From 3 to 5 months of age, all calves received lucerne hay and maize meal, both freely available, and water. Average daily gain (kg) during the postweaning and total experimental periods was 1,15 and 0,96; 1,08 and 0,91; 1,22 and 1,04; 1,25 and 1,06; 1,21 and 1,04 respectively for Treatments 1- 5. Feed intake during months 2 and 3 (kg/day and percentage of bodymass) for Treatments 1- 5 respectively, was 2,32 and 3,62; 2,15 and 3,28; 2,40 and 3,48; 2,75 and 3,98; 2,21 and 3,02. Feed intake during months 4 and 5 (kg/day and percentage of bodymass) was 4,44 and 3,39; 4,32 and 3,40; 4,75 and 3,48; 4,96 and 3,50; 4,73 and 3,35 respectively for Treatments 1- 5. Final mass (kg) and carcass mass (kg) of calves in Treatments 1- 5 were 168,1 and 79,5; 164,3 and 83,0; 179,7 and 97,3; 181,0 and 94,8; 184,4 and 91,9 respectively. Gross margin per calf was respectively R70,93; R62,29; R81,67; R93,90 and R69,95 for Treatments 1- 5.