Table 1 Summary of alpha diversity analyses. Pearson’s coefficients of correlation for Pielou’s evenness, Faith’s phylogenetic diversity, and Shannon diversity index with volatile fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) at various time points, prepartum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), rumen pH, body condition score, parity, and day in milk (DIM) of diagnosis or matching. Statistically significant correlations indicated by *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01

Acetic^a

0.21

0.22

0.25

−0.35*

0.14

−0.03

Butyric^a

−0.14

−0.17

− 0.07

0.29

0.04

0.09

Isobutyric^a

−0.21

−0.17

− 0.27

−0.09

− 0.12

−0.17

Isovaleric plus 2-methyl butyric^a

−0.16

0.08

−0.02

−0.19

0.33

0.14

Lactic^a

−0.34

−0.01

− 0.31

0.25

− 0.06

−0.10

Propionic^a

0.03

−0.11

−0.16

0.02

−0.37*

− 0.22

Valeric^a

−0.17

− 0.36*

−0.30

0.13

−0.09

0.01

Ratio of Acetic to Propionic

0.10

0.16

0.22

−0.11

0.38*

0.20

Prepartum NEFA^a

−0.43*

−0.26

− 0.45**

−0.05

− 0.20

−0.14

14 d prepartum BHB^a

−0.14

−0.16

− 0.12

0.01

0.02

0.04

7 d prepartum BHB^a

−0.02

−0.01

− 0.18

−0.10

0.14

0.00

BHB at diagnosis or matching^a

−0.40*

−0.11

− 0.28

0.03

− 0.06

−0.05

DIM of diagnosis or matching

0.04

0.05

−0.08

−0.12

0.26

0.16

Rumen pH

0.09

0.20

0.11

−0.32

− 0.22

−0.37*

Body Condition Score

−0.02

−0.16

− 0.06

−0.07

0.005

0.00

Parity

0.23

0.27

0.36*

0.18

0.01

0.15