Twenty-four dry cows were divided into 3 groups and fed maize silage, meadow hay and ground barley in amounts covering their nutritients, calcium and phosphorus requirements according to INRA, DLG or NRC standards. Mineral mixture - Polfamix, produced according to our formula, NaCl, limestone and ammonium phosphate were used as vitamin-mineral additives. The digestibility of dietary nutrients and nitrogen and mineral (Ca, P, Mg, Na, Zn and Cu) balance were determined in each cow 3-4 weeks before calving. Nutrients digestibility, calcium absorption (46.3%) and retention (25 g/d/cow) were higher in cows fed according to INRA standards than using the DLG and NRC systems. In cows from all groups, absorption (14-24%) and retention (3-7 g/d/cow) of phosphorus were low, but the highest values were in cows fed according to the INRA system. True absorption of Ca and P calculated according to the DLG and INRA systems equaled, respectively: Ca, 60-64 and 62-65%; P, 42-57 and 65-87%. Serum Ca and P levels in the cows corresponded to the retention of these elements.