[Effect of the addition of sorbitol to the feed of lactating cows on their performance and blood composition].

One hundred and nineteen dairy cows were given 0, 50 or 100 g sorbitol per day in the diet, in 4 trials. Three trials were conducted at the beginning of lactation, with maize silage, grass silage or grass silage and hay based diets. In the fourth trial conducted in mid-lactation, the concentrate had been enriched with fat. No sorbitol or fructose was found in blood. Sorbitol decreased free cholesterolemia (P less than 0.01), ester-cholesterolemia (P less than 0.10) and glycemia (P less than or equal to 0.05). No changes in performance were noted.