Effects of prepartum intake of DCAD equivalents (Eq)/d on concentrations of blood minerals and metabolites, production and health, were evaluated using classical meta-analytical methods. We hypothesized that reducing DCAD intake would reduce the risk of milk fever, hypocalcemia and increase production. There was a maximum of 58 comparisons from 31 experiments and 1,476 cows. Intakes of DCAD were 2.28 Eq/d and −0.64 Eq/d for control and treated groups. Diets with lower DCAD reduced urine pH (SMD = 1.90: −1.23 pH; P < 0.001), decreased prepartum DMI (SMD = 0.23; 0.29 kg/d; P < 0 0.001), increased postpartum DMI (SMD = 0.40; 0.63 kg/d; P < 0.001), and increased milk production (SMD = 0.172; P < 0.001). However, treatment significantly increased milk in parous cows (SMD = 0.29; 1.1 kg/d; P = 0.002) but treated nulliparous (NP) cows produced 1.28 kg/d (SMD = −0.2; P > 0.1) less than controls. The FCM yield increased with treatment (SMD = 0.12; 0.56 kg/d; P = 0.03); but treatment tended to increase (P = 0.06) FCM in parous cows and decrease in NP cows compared with controls. Milk fat percentage, fat yield, and protein percentages were not affected by treatment, but protein yield tended to increase (SMD = 0.21; 0.02 kg/d; P = 0.07). Treatment increased blood Ca and P on the day of calving, (SMD = 0.53; 0.13 mM; P < 0.001) and (SMD = 0.40; 0.13 mM; P < 0.001), respectively, and Ca postpartum (SMD = 0.36; 0.06 mM; P = 0.003). Blood BHB was decreased in treated cows before calving (SMD = −0.39; −0.04 mM; P = 0.007). No other blood metabolite changes occurred. Cows fed lower DCAD diets (Eq/d) had less risk of milk fever by 68%, retained placenta (69%), metritis (219%), and morbidity (64%). There was no effect on risk of abomasal displacement or mastitis. There was no effect of differences in Ca intake g/d on outcomes evaluated. Increased Mg intake g/d between groups increased milk fat production and reduced risk of retained placenta. The DMI increased in cows of both parity and milk increased in parous cows. Health was improved for both parity groups, hence this study supports a positive effect of acidogenic diets on dairy cows. More studies are needed on dietary strategies for NP transition cows.