Twenty-eight Holsteins were tested to determine effects of dietary and parenteral vitamin E supplementation during the dry period on plasma alpha-tocopherol and in vitro neutrophil functions at calving. Cows were assigned to one of four experimental groups receiving either supplemental dietary vitamin E, injections of vitamin E, both dietary and injections of vitamin E, or neither source of supplemental vitamin E during the dry period in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Cows receiving parenteral vitamin E were injected subcutaneously with 3000 IU of vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol) at 10 and 5 d prior to anticipated calving. Cows not receiving parenteral vitamin E were injected with a placebo. Experimental groups receiving dietary vitamin E during the dry period were supplemented with 1040 IU/d compared with none for controls. Cows injected with vitamin E had greater plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration 5 d after the first injection, at calving, and 1 wk after calving than did cows injected with placebo. Plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations did not differ between dietary vitamin E treatment groups from calving through 4 wk postpartum. No interaction was found between dietary and parenteral supplementation of vitamin E on plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration. Neutrophils from cows injected with vitamin E had greater intracellular kill of bacteria at calving than did neutrophils from placebo-injected cows. Neither phagocytic index nor percentage of neutrophils phagocytizing differed between vitamin E-injected and placebo-injected cows. Dietary vitamin E during the dry period had no effect on neutrophil function at calving. Intracellular kill and plasma alpha-tocopherol were correlated at calving.