The aim of this study was to investigate nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), beta-hydroxy butyric acid (BHBA), and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) profiles for dairy cows fed with rumen-protected choline (RPC) during the transition period. A total of 30 dairy cows were allocated to one control and two experimental groups (10 animals per group) and were fed from 3 weeks before calving to 21 days in milk. The control was fed only the basal diet. Treatment groups 1 and 2 were fed a basal diet containing 60 and 120 g/head/day RPC, respectively. The differences between groups were insignificant for MUN levels of colostrum and milk. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the groups in terms of serum NEFA or BHBA levels. RPC supplementation did not have a significant effect on energy or protein metabolism of dairy cows during the transition period. The main effects of the periods without group effects in the model were highly significant (P