The goals of colostrumand milk feeding programs for preweaned calves and small ruminants are to achieve optimal rates of gain, support and develop a strong immune system, maximize health, and stimulate ruminal development, all in a cost- effective manner.

Although feeding high-quality, clean maternal colostrum and whole milk may be considered by many to be gold standards, the use of high- quality colostrum replacement products and milk replacers may be attractive to producers for a variety of reasons, including consistency, convenience, as a means of breaking the transmis­sion cycle of some infectious diseases, or simply to capture economic efficiencies. This chapter reviews important con­siderations in the manufacture, selection, and use of high-quality colostrum replacement and milk replacer products.