A healthy two day old calf is probably still passing the contents of the intestines that were there prior to birth. These contents, called meconium, are often yellow/orange in color. Milk-fed calves often have light colored or yellow feces. The yellow color comes from bilirubin in bile that is excreted from the gall bladder of the liver into the intestinal tract. The manure of calves is quite variable in composition, so it is important to also evaluate other conditions of the calf; such as its appetite, if it behaves bright and alert, and if it has evidence of dehydration such as sunken eyes, or less-pliable skin.

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