We examined whether calves' milk intake and activity in the days after birth predict later growth and the risk of illness. Female Holstein calves (n = 130) were housed in individual pens where they were allowed ad libitum milk from birth to 5 days of age. Daily milk intakes were recorded and accelerometers attached to the calves measured time spent standing and lying down. After 5 days, calves were housed in group pens with four to nine calves per group and allowed 12 L/day of milk and ad libitum hay and starter from automated feeders. Calves were weighed at birth (birth weight = BW) and at 28 days of age and health status was determined daily. Digestible energy (DE) intakes were calculated from feed intakes. During days 2-4, there were large differences among calves in the amount of milk consumed, which ranged from 7.3% BW/day (2.4 L/day) to 30.5% BW/day (12 L/day) with a median of 16.3% BW/day (6.7 L/day). Twenty-one calves were treated for illness from days 6 to 28. These calves had lower milk intakes on days 2, 3 and 4 than calves that remained healthy (P < 0.05). For the calves that did not become ill, milk intake on day 4 was correlated (r = 0.29; P < 0.01) with ADG from days 0 to 28 and correlated (r = 0.33; P = 0.03) with the residual body weight on day 28 (when birth weight and digestible energy intakes from days 5 to 28 were accounted for using multiple regression). Time spent standing from days 2 to 4 varied between calves but was not correlated with BW, milk intake during days 2-4, or weight gains to day 28 (P > 0.10). Very young calves can drink large quantities of milk, and the calves that drink the largest amounts in the first days of life have greater long-term growth rates and are less likely to become ill. Milk intake may be a better sign of early calf vigour than activity levels. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.