Our objective was to evaluate effects of diet starch content and fermentability on energy intake and balance during the early postpartum (PP) period. Fifty-two multiparous Holstein cows were used in a randomized block design experiment with a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatment rations were formulated to 22% (LS) or 28% (HS) starch content with dry ground corn (DGC) or high moisture corn (HMC) as the primary starch source. Rations were formulated for 22% forage NDF and 17% CP and fed from 1 to 23 d PP. Starch content was adjusted by substitution of corn grain for soyhulls. DMI and milk yield were measured daily, and milk components, BCS, and BW were measured weekly. Feeds and refusals, and fecal samples were collected once a week for 3 weeks. Data were analyzed using a mixed model with block and cow as random effects and day or week PP as continuous measures. DGC increased net energy (NEl) intake compared with HMC (2.4 Mcal/d; P = 0.01) by increasing DMI (2.2 kg/d; P < 0.01), with a greater effect on NEl intake for HS than LS (4.2 vs. 0.6 Mcal/d; interaction P = 0.06). In addition, HS decreased total-tract NDF digestibility compared with LS (P < 0.01), with a greater reduction (18%) for HMC compared with DGC (7.1%, interaction P = 0.09). DGC increased milk NEl compared with HMC (31 vs. 28.2 Mcal/d; P = 0.02) by increasing yields of milk (2.6 kg/d; P = 0.08), milk fat (165 g/d; P = 0.03) and protein (165 g/d; P = 0.01). Compared with HMC, DGC reduced BW loss (−33.4 vs. −64.7 kg; P < 0.01) and tended to reduce BCS loss (−0.23 vs. −0.34; P = 0.08). HS tended to improve energy balance compared with LS (−15.3 vs. −17.1 Mcal/d; P = 0.07), which was greater for DGC than HMC treatments during the first week PP, but lower thereafter (interaction P = 0.08). Efficiency of utilization of digestible energy intake for milk production was highest for LS-DGC (67.8%), followed by LS-HMC (67.1%), HS-HMC (61.1%) and HS-DGC (59.8%; interaction P = 0.09). Feeding DGC improved energy intake and milk yield but had little effect on energy balance during the early PP period.