During the transition period, differences in dry matter intake among dairy cows are associated with the incidence of uterine health problems, lipid mobilization as NEFA, and delayed 1st ovulation postpartum. Fertility during breeding is greater for cows with less postpartum health problems and those with early ovulation. Ongoing research is aimed at identifying genotypes associated with differences in feed intake that may be important for genetic selection to improve health and fertility of dairy cows.