Rations for dairy cows are mainly based on corn silage (CS) but contain no fresh grass resulting in low essential fatty acid (EFA), especially α-linolenic acid (ALA), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supply. We investigated the fatty acid status of neonatal calves born from dams, which were supplemented with EFA and CLA and fed a CS based TMR with low fat and ALA content. All calves were delivered by dams abomasally supplemented either with coconut oil (76 g/d; CTRL; n = 9), linseed and safflower oil (78 + 4 g/d; EFA; n = 9), Lutalin^® (10 g/d c9, t11 and t10, c12 CLA, resp.; CLA; n = 9) or a combination of EFA and CLA (EFA+CLA; n = 11) during the last 9 wk of gestation and the following lactation. During the experimental period, each calf was fed with colostrum from its own dam. Fatty acids (mg/100 mg total fatty acids) were measured in colostrum and in blood plasma of calves on d 1 (before colostrum intake) and d 5 of age. Data analysis was conducted by means of the MIXED procedure of SAS as repeated measurement ANOVA containing treatment, time (blood plasma), treatment × time, and sex as fixed effects and supplementation period and duration of gestation as covariates. Maternal supplementation with EFA and EFA+CLA increased the content of ALA in colostrum (P < 0.01), whereas CLA and EFA+CLA supplementation led to higher concentrations of t10, c12 CLA in colostrum (P < 0.05). In calf, plasma total fatty acid concentration and linoleic acid increased (P < 0.05) from d 1 to d 5 of age without any treatment effect. Plasma concentration of ALA increased (P < 0.05), but docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decreased (P < 0.05) from d 1 to d 5. Concentrations of ALA, DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid were higher (P < 0.05) in EFA and EFA+CLA than in CLA and CTRL on d 1 and 5 of age. Concentration of c9, t11CLA increased in all groups and on d 1 and 5 was higher (P < 0.05) in CLA and EFA+CLA than in EFA and CTRL. Results indicate an improved n-3 fatty acid and CLA status in neonatal calves when cows receive respective fatty acids during late gestation.