This study was conducted to evaluate feeding periods of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and meat quality in finishing pigs. A total of 150 finishing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an average body weight (BW) of 83.13 ± 1.91 kg were randomly allocated into one of three treatments (10 pens per treatment, five pigs per pen) based on their BW. Dietary treatments consisted of supplementing the basal diet with 1.0% CLA during 2, 3, and 4 wk prior to finishing. Pigs fed CLA diets 2 wk before finishing had a higher overall average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G/F) than those fed CLA diets 4 wk before finishing (P < 0.05). In the whole experiment, pigs fed CLA diets 2 wk before finishing had a higher serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) than those fed CLA diets 3 and 4 wk before finishing. However, pigs that received CLA diets 4 wk before finishing had higher triglyceride levels (P < 0.05). Feeding 1% CLA diets 4 wk before finishing improved meat color and firmness. Taken together, feeding 1% CLA diet 4 wk before finishing increased ADG, G/F, and serum LDL, but reduced serum triglyceride.