We evaluated the effects of increasing pelleting temperatures on milk yield and composition of post peak lactating dairy cows. Ninety-four cows at 65 d in milk were housed and randomly assigned to a treatment sequence in a 4 × 4 replicated Latin square pen design (2 pens per square) with 28 d periods including 21 d of washout and 7 d of data collection. Complete treatment supplements were as follows: control (meal form), P66 (pellet at 66°C), P74 (pellet at 74°C), and P82 (pellet at 82°C). Cows were milked 3 times per day with daily individual cow milk yield averaged by week. Milk composition was assessed weekly utilizing a 2 d average. Body weight and condition scores were taken at the beginning and completion of each period. Data were analyzed using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure (SAS) with differences noted at P < 0.05 and trends at P < 0.15. Orthogonal contrasts of linear and quadratic were used to further describe the relationships between pelleting temperatures. Pelleting temperature only resulted in a slight linear decrease in milk fat percentage (P < 0.13) and a tendency for a quadratic (P < 0.06) response in milk efficiency being highest for the P74 treatment. Estimate statements were utilized to assess feed form influence aside from milkfat percentage and milk efficiency. Changing the feed form to a pellet increased milk yield (2.54 kg/d; P < 0.01), 3.5% FCM (2.02 kg / d; P < 0.04), and ECM yield (2.13 kg/d; P < 0.01). The higher milk yield with the pellet also led to a greater milk fat (0.06 kg/d; P < 0.05) and milk protein yield (0.08 kg/d; P < 0.01). Pelleting elevated production efficiencies (FCM - P < 0.02, ECM; P < 0.01, and gross protein; P < 0.01). Lower MUN levels occurred for a pellet versus a meal (0.49 mg/dL; P < 0.03). Less change in BCS also took place for a pellet over meal treatments (0.03; P < 0.12). Pelleting temperature had little to no effect upon lactational performance while pelleting the feed appears to enhance lactational performance.