The present invention relates to the use of human milk oligosaccharides for feeding production animals such as calves. The present invention further relates to milk replacer compositions containing human milk oligosaccharides. Further subject matter of the present invention is a method for preventing and treating gastrointestinal diseases, particularly gastro-intestinal infections, of young production animals, in particular calves, by administering an effective amount of one or more human milk oligosaccharides. Particularly useful in the context of the present invention as one or the human milk oligosaccharide is 2'-fucosyllactose (2-FL).
