The aim of the study was to assess the effects of energy intake during the dry period on cows that suffered non-disease (ND) or disease (DD; displacement of abomasum, retained placenta, metritis, or milk fever) postpartum. Twenty-nine multiparous Holstein cows dried-off 50 d before calving were blocked by parity, body weight (BW), and body condition score (BCS), and then randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments: controlled energy (CE; NE_L = 1.39 Mcal/kg; n = 17) or higher-energy (HE; NE_L = 1.58 Mcal/kg; n = 12) to supply 100 or ~150% of energy (NE_L) requirements at ad libitum intake, respectively. After calving all cows were fed the same lactation diet. Cows were individually fed and remained in the study until 28 d after calving. At dry-off, BW was similar (P = 0.15) among treatments but DD cows postpartum had greater (P = 0.01) initial BW than ND (820 vs. 735 kg). Prepartum intakes of NE_L (16.5 and 20.2 Mcal/d) and energy balance (EB) were greater (P < 0.05) in HE than CE. Significant interaction of diet and time (P = 0.03) showed greater decrease in EB 2 wk prior calving in HE than CE. Postpartum, cows fed HE tended (P = 0.08) to lose more BW, had greater BCS (P = 0.05), but lost more BCS (0.53 and 0.21; P = 0.02) than CE. Cows DD postpartum lost more BW (P = 0.03), had lower BCS (P = 0.01), and lost more BCS (P = 0.05) than ND. Cows fed CE tended (P = 0.10) to have greater intakes of dry matter (DM) and NE_L postpartum than HE. Cows ND had greater (P < 0.01) DM and NE_L intakes than DD. Cows that were DD but fed CE (n = 6) had greater (P < 0.05) intakes of DM and NE_L than DD cows fed HE (n = 5). Postpartum EB was greater (P = 0.04) in ND than DD cows. Dietary treatment had no effects (P > 0.20) on milk yield or milk components. Cows ND had greater (P < 0.05) milk yield, milk protein concentration and yield, and lactose concentration and yield than DD. High-BW cows were more likely to suffer DD and performed poorly. Cows fed CE diet prepartum had lesser decrease in EB 2 wk before calving followed by lower BW and BCS losses and greater intakes of DM and NE_L postpartum. Among DD cows, those previously fed CE showed benefits in DM and NE_L intakes compared with those fed HE.