The aim of this study was to determine the effects of milk flow rate and milk allowance from a computer-controlled milk feeder on calves’ use of the feeder. Four calves each were assigned to one of four treatments: low milk allowance and normal milk flow rate (LN), high milk allowance and normal milk flow rate (HN), low milk allowance and reduced milk flow rate (LR), or high milk allowance and reduced milk flow rate (HR). Data were collected by the computerized feeder from day 15 until weaning. Findings indicated that the overall combination of high milk yield and low flow rate resulted in the most time spent in the feeder during rewarded visits. However, there were significant effects of breed. For the heavy breed calves, a reduced milk flow rate resulted in a longer duration of rewarded visits and a longer duration of all visits. A high milk allowance resulted in fewer unrewarded visits, a shorter duration of unrewarded visits, and a shorter duration of all visits to the feeder. For all breeds, the reduced milk flow rate resulted in a longer duration of visits where the calves had access to milk but did not consume it. Calf behaviour was recorded on video for a 24 hour period. Recordings showed that heavy breed calves that fed at a reduced milk flow rate occupied the feeder more than the calves fed at a normal milk flow rate. When offered a high milk allowance, the heavy breed calves entered the feeder less often and also entered the feeder less frequently when it was empty. Calves of all breeds, when offered a low milk allowance in combination with a reduced milk flow rate, tried more often to get access to an occupied feeder and displaced other calves from the feeder more often. There were no effects of treatment on the occurrence of cross-sucking. Results indicated that, for heavy breeds, a reduced milk flow rate increased the mean occupancy of the feeder due to a longer duration of rewarded visits. Also, a higher milk allowance reduced the mean occupancy through a reduction in the duration of unrewarded visits for the heavy breed calves. The hypothesis that a high number of unrewarded visits to a computerized milk feeder being likely due to hunger, was supported by the results of this study. The results further suggest that the time the calves occupy the feeder may be reduced by a high milk allowance. The combination of a low milk allowance and a reduced milk flow rate may result in an increase in the competition for access to the feeder.