Difructose anhydride (DFA) III is an indigestible oligosaccharide. It has been shown to reach the duodenum without being degraded by ruminal bacteria and to promote the intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption via paracellular pathway in cattle, but these studies did not mention DFA III’s effectiveness during early postpartum (pp) period. The objective of this study was to determine whether DFA III could promote intestinal paracellular Ca absorption during early pp period. Seventy-four multiparous Holstein cows were separated into the DFA and control groups based on their parity (3.7 ± 0.3 and 3.7 ± 0.3, respectively). The DFA group was fed 40 g/d of DFA III from −14 d to 6 d relative to calving and the control group was not fed DFA III. At calving (0 h pp), the serum Ca declined below 9 mg/dL in both groups. However, the serum Ca was significantly greater in the DFA group than in the control group at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h pp (P < 0.05) and the time interval for serum Ca recovery to ≥9 mg/dL during the pp period was shorter in the high-parity cows of the DFA group than in those of the control group. The serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased at 0 h pp in both groups and was significantly greater in the control group than in the DFA group at 12 h and 24 h pp (P < 0.05). The serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)₂D] increased at 0 h and 12 h pp in both groups and was significantly greater in the control group than in the DFA group at 72 h pp (P < 0.01). The serum bone-resorption marker cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) was not significantly different between the groups during peripartum period, and the serum NTX in all of the cows was lesser at 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h pp than at −21 d, 4 d, and 5 d relative to calving (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the DFA group had rapid recovery of serum Ca, although bone resorption was restrained and active intestinal Ca absorption via transcellular pathway was impaired. In conclusion, DFA III promotes intestinal passive Ca absorption via paracellular pathway during early pp period, which is unaffected by aging.