This study used a meta-analysis approach to evaluate relationships between milk fat-to-protein ratio (FPR) and calculated daily energy balance (EB) in early lactation dairy cows. The data set was collected from 20 experiments (67 treatments, 736 cows – mostly Holstein Friesian). Perennial ryegrass silage was the predominant forage source in all experiments (mean forage-to-concentrate ratio on a DM basis was 47:53). Daily EB (MJ of metabolizable energy; ME/d) was calculated for each cow using equations in ‘Feed into Milk’ (UK dairy cow rationing system), daily intakes and milk yields, weekly live-weights and either weekly or fortnightly milk composition data. Concentrate ME contents were determined from ‘book values’ (FeedByte - SAC Consulting) for individual ingredients, while the ME content of forages offered were mostly determined via NIRS predictions. A mean EB for each week (MJ of ME/d) was subsequently calculated. Data were split into 3 periods (wk 1–4, 5–8 and 9–12 post calving) and analyzed separately for parities 1, 2 and 3. Relationships between FPR and EB were examined on the same occasions (n = 894) that blood samples were collected for each individual cow as described in a companion abstract. The data were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model (REML estimation method). Study and cow within study were fitted as random effects in the model. The mean FPR (±SD) for parity 1, 2, and 3 were 1.29 ± 0.205, 1.26 ± 0.209, and 1.28 ± 0.227 respectively. The FPR was negatively related to EB and this trend was consistent across all parities and periods. All regression slopes of the linear equations were statistically different (P ≤ 0.01). Daily EB responses for wk 1–4 were −5.71, −8.15, and −6.68 MJ of ME/d per 0.1 units of FPR, whereas values for wk 5–8 were −4.73, −8.25, and −6.14 MJ of ME/d per 0.1 units of FPR (for parity 1, 2, and 3 respectively). At 9–12 weeks post calving, EB responses to FPR became more negative as parity increased: −4.36, −6.85, and −8.77 MJ of ME/d per 0.1 units of FPR (for parity 1, 2, and 3, respectively). This meta-analysis confirms that FPR is a good proxy for EB in dairy cows.