The Behaviour of a Holstein-based dairy farming system in Brazil between 1980 and 1992.

The Holstein breed is being used successfully for milk production in many countries, including Brazil, as long as good management lands practices are applied. This study gives an overview of the development of the Holstein-based dairy system in Brazil. An analysis of the behaviour of this system evaluates its structure and properties in terms of milk and fat production per lactation number through the years. The life time production curves and the trends in the long-term evaluation show how this system persists and maintains production in the long term with regard to routine fluctuations in response to disturbances. The available data are from purebred Holstein cattle and consist of complete lactation records, registered at the National Dairy Cattle Archive from 1980