Free fatty acids (FFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, and steroid concentrations in follicular fluid (FF) and blood serum (BS), and luteal status were examined in cows individually fed a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product(SCFP; NutriTek, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) from −4 through +7 wk after calving (wk 0). Holsteins (n = 59) were assigned to control or SCFP diets (45 and 32% NDF, 14 and 19% starch pre- and postpartum, respectively). Blood was collected at −4, −2, +1, +2, +5, and +7 wk for FFA and BHB analyses. Milk yield and DMI were measured daily. Blood was collected before injections of GnRH, prostaglandin F_2α, and GnRH at 32 ± 3, 39 ± 3, and 42 ± 3 DIM, respectively, to synchronize ovulation before dominant follicle recovery (DFR) by transvaginal aspiration at 49 ± 3 DIM (d 7 post-GnRH). Luteal status (high progesterone [P4] > 1 ng/mL) was determined on 32 ± 3 DIM. Blood collected before DFR and in FF after DFR was assayed for FFA, BHB, glucose, P4, androstenedione, and estradiol concentrations. After DFR, cows were inseminated at a fixed time at 70 ± 3 DIM and pregnancy was diagnosed 32 d later. Treatment did not affect milk yield, DM intake, or proportion of cows with early luteal function at 32 DIM (50 vs. 56% for SCFP vs. control) or pregnancy per AI (44 vs. 50%). Metabolites and hormonal concentrations did not differ between treatments in BS or FF at any sampling time. Concentrations of FFA in BS were greater (P < 0.01) at −4 and +1 wk in cows with low compared with high P4 by 32 DIM. Cows with low P4 also had greater (P < 0.05) BHB in BS at +2 and +5 wk compared with cows with high P4. Cows with low compared with high P4 had greater (P < 0.05) BHB in BS and FF at +7 wk. Cows conceiving to AI had less (P = 0.03) BHB in BS at +1 wk and less (P = 0.05) FFA in BS at +7 wk than cows that did not conceive. Concentrations of BHB (r = 0.61; P < 0.001) and glucose (r = 0.56; P = 0.003) in BS and FF were correlated positively. Differences in BHB and FFA in BS were predictive of luteal and pregnancy status, and BHB and glucose in BS reflected that in FF of the dominant follicle. No effect of SCFP was detected.