This study investigated the transfer of essential fatty acid (EFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to calves, whose dams were supplemented with EFA and CLA during late gestation and early lactation. Maternal EFA and CLA supplementation increased the respective fatty acids in calf plasma to a greater extent on d 5 of life than on d 1 before colostrum feeding and affected colostrum composition but did not affect calf performance.