The experiment was conducted with 24 high-yielding dairy cows to evaluate the effects of two different management and feeding strategies during dry-off period on their dry matter intake, milk production, body condition and basic parameters of blood and rumen fluid. Average dry matter intake of cows in experimental group (P35) assigned to a shortened dry period of approximately 35 days and fed a late-lactation diet continuously until calving was 14.63 kg/cow/day, whereas dry matter intake of cows in control group (K60) dried about 60 days and fed a dry-cow diet was 9.29 kg/cow/day. After calving however, average dry matter intake in group P35 was 17.84 kg/cow/day vs. 20.54 kg/cow/day in group K60. Shortening the dry period to 35 days reduced average milk yield about 5.8 kg/cow/day trough first 100 days of lactation.