The objective of the current study was to clarify associations between the severity of systemic inflammation during the early postpartum period with performance and energy metabolism. Cows were assigned to categorical quartiles (Q; Q1 = 0.18–0.59, Q2 = 0.60–1.14, Q3 = 1.15–2.05, and Q4 = 2.06–2.50 g haptoglobin/L) based on the highest plasma haptoglobin concentration measured during wk 1 postpartum. Linear and quadratic contrasts were tested for all measurements, and data analyzed over time were subjected to repeated-measures ANOVA using PROC MIXED of SAS (v 9.3) and the REPEATED statement. There was a quadratic relationship (P = 0.01) on prepartum net energy for lactation (NE_L) intake such that cows in Q3 had lower prepartum NE_L intake compared with cows in the other Q (Q1 = 21.1, Q2 = 19.2, Q3 = 16.6, Q4 = 19.6 Mcal/d). There was a quadratic relationship (P = 0.02) on postpartum NE_L intake such that cows in Q3 also had lower postpartum NE_L intakes compared with cows in the other Q (Q1 = 36.3, Q2 = 34.6, Q3 = 29.8, Q4 = 33.7 Mcal/d). There was also a quadratic relationship (P = 0.05) with postpartum milk yield (Q1 = 42.6, Q2 = 40.1, Q3 = 34.2, Q4 = 37.4 kg/d), with similar relationships with 3.5% fat-corrected milk (P = 0.02) and energy-corrected milk (P = 0.03). There was a linear tendency (P = 0.06) for cows with increasing inflammation to have higher plasma glucose concentrations compared with cows with low inflammation. There was a similar linear relationship (P = 0.04) for plasma insulin and cows in Q3 and Q4 had higher postpartum insulin compared with cows in Q1 and Q2. There was a linear relationship (P = 0.04) for plasma NEFA and cows with increasing inflammation had lower NEFA (Q1 = 498, Q2 = 456, Q3 = 430, Q4 = 407 µEq/L). There was a quadratic relationship of inflammation (P = 0.02) with liver triglyceride content at d 7 postpartum and cows in Q3 had the lowest triglyceride content. There was also a quadratic relationship (P = 0.02) for liver glycogen and cows in Q3 had elevated liver glycogen content on d 7 postpartum compared with cows in other Q. Overall, cows with elevated haptoglobin in the first week after calving had reduced milk yields and alterations in metabolism; however, cows that have high early lactation haptoglobin (>1.14 g/L) had a diverse range of production responses and further investigation is warranted.