The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of parity on general activity and plasma levels of acute phase proteins (APP) as possible indicators of inflammation associated with calving. This experiment is part of a larger project aiming to assess the effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam on pain and discomfort associated with calving. Sixty Friesian dairy cows from first to sixth parity with calving that did not require mechanical assistance were included. Haptoglobin (Hp, mg/mL) and serum amyloid A (SAA, µg/mL) were determined in blood serum samples taken postcalving (d0) and on d2, d4 and d15 after calving, as APP. Cow activity, calculated as the number of steps per hour, was obtained using activity meters (Westfalia, Germany) around calving. Statistical analyses were carried out with the SAS software. A procedure of GENMOD and MIXED was used for activity and APP, respectively. Concentrations of APP on d2 and d4 were significantly higher than those on d0 and d15 (p<0.0001). Heifers showed higher values than multiparous cows (Hp: 0.73 ± 0.07 vs 0.48 ± 0.06 and SAA: 132.04 ± 13.27 vs 85.86 ± 12.59). A significant correlation between Hp and SAA was found (r=0.79; p<0.001). Activity showed a day by parity interaction effect. Heifers showed higher general activity than cows from day 1 before until two days postcalving (p<0.01). In heifers and cows, activity was higher around calving (from d-1 to d2) than from d3 to d7. Significant correlations were found between APP and total average activity (Hp, r=0.62 and SAA, r=0.58; p<0.0001). Although further research is needed, these preliminary results suggest that inflammation associated with parturition, measured through the concentration of acute phase proteins, may cause an increase in general activity in dairy cows after calving and may be more pronounced in heifers than in multiparous cows.