Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native tall grass species. Hay from this forage is high in fiber and low in potassium, making it a promising feed for dry cows. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of feeding switchgrass hay or straw in a single dry period ration. Holstein cows (n = 36) were randomly assigned to one of 2 “controlled energy” diets at dry-off. Forage in the TMR consisted of an approximately 50:50 ratio of corn silage and either switchgrass hay (SGR) or wheat straw (CON). Cows were fed twice daily during the dry period, and refusals were weighed once daily. After calving, cows entered the lactating herd, and daily milk yield was collected up to 21 DIM. Ketones were measured with a cow-side test at 7, 10, 14, and 21 DIM, and BCS was recorded once weekly from the beginning of the dry period through the first month of lactation. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS, with the random effect of cow and the fixed effects of calving month, diet, parity, days relative to calving (DRC), and the interactions of diet with parity and DRC. There was a significant effect of parity and DRC on DMI, BCS (prepartum and postpartum), and milk yield (P ≤ 0.05). Ketones were affected by parity (P = 0.01) but only tended to differ due to DRC (P = 0.07). Prepartum DMI was not affected by diet (CON = 14.8 ± 0.86 kg/d, SGR = 15.4 ± 0.70 kg/d; P = 0.20), nor was daily milk yield (CON = 31.2 ± 1.62 kg/d, SGR = 32.9 ± 1.31 kg/d; P = 0.31). Postpartum ketone levels also were not affected by diet (CON = 1.2 ± 0.14 mmol/L, SGR = 0.8 ± 0.12 mmol/L; P = 0.20). There was no overall effect of diet on BCS prepartum (CON = 3.45 ± 0.070, SGR = 3.39 ± 0.056; P = 0.59), although postpartum BCS differed due to dry period diet (CON = 3.24 ± 0.070, SGR = 3.01 ± 0.057; P = 0.02). Interactions between diet and DRC or parity were not significant (P ≥ 0.11), except for DMI, where DRC × diet was significant (P < 0.01). Although cows who received SGR in the dry period mobilized more body fat in the month following parturition than CON, cows on both treatments maintained a healthy BCS, and overall there were no apparent negative effects of feeding switchgrass in the dry period.