The hepatic oxidation theory states that, especially during the early postpartum (PP), intake is regulated by oxidation of fuels, thus highly fermentable carbohydrates would contribute toward reduced intake. Shifting the site of starch digestion to the small intestine may alleviate the reduced intake in the PP. The aim of the study was to modulate the site of starch digestion using different corn particle sizes, and evaluate its effects on feeding behavior, dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and composition, and metabolism of dairy cows in the early PP. Jersey cows (n = 117) were used in a randomized block design. Treatment diets, formulated to contain 28% of starch, had either 3 or 6-mm ground corn (fine or coarse), as primary starch source. Diets were fed as total mixed ration (TMR) from calving to 30d PP. Cows were fed a common close-up diet. Intake, milk yield and body weight (BW) were measured daily; milk composition, body condition score (BCS), blood metabolites were obtained weekly. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX (SAS) with cow as a random factor. Feeding coarsely ground corn (CC) increased DMI (16.08 vs. 17.13 kg/d; P ≤ 0.05) and milk yield (20.41 vs. 21.70 kg/d; P ≤ 0.05) during the early PP compared with finely ground corn (CF). Diets did not affect eating (581.13 vs. 583.57 min/d) and rumination time (308.58 vs. 315.35 min/d, CF vs. CC) nor yields of milk protein, ECM, 3.5% FCM or MUN. Milk lactose increased with CC compared with the CF diet (4.61 vs. 4.70%; P ≤ 0.01); milk fat percentage tended to be higher (5.57 vs. 5.27%; P = 0.06) with CF compared with the CC diet, but milk fat yield did not differ. Changes in BW and BCS were greater in cows fed CF (39.92 vs 32.24 kg and 0.23 vs. 0.14 units). Plasma NEFA concentration was lower in the CC fed cows (0.71 vs. 0.56 mmol/L; P = 0.02), suggesting that they were in a better metabolic status, thus reducing the mobilization of body reserves. Blood glucose level was not affected by treatment. The lower DMI in cows fed FC compared with cows fed CC supports the hepatic oxidation theory of the control of feed intake.