Relationship between type traits and milk production in Holstein cows from Antioquia, Colombia

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between type traits and milk production in Holstein cows from Antioquia, Colombia. Materials and methods. A total of 24 type traits and milk production from 3102 cows under an official milk control records were used. Data were analyzed by factors (FA) using the principal components method. Factors that showed eigenvalue greater than 1.0 were retained, and analyzed by ANOVA for production of milk, which took into account the fixed effects of farm, months of calving and year of evaluation. Then, linear regression coefficients were estimated for each of the factors retained. Results. The FA showed that only seven factors were retained, explaining about 64% of the total variance of all type traits analyzed. The first factor met the variables related to the overall structure of the cow and had an eigenvalue of 3.85. It was also found, that the factors studied were related mainly to milk production. Conclusions. The high milk production of dairy cows from Antioquia, Colombia, was associated to large cows, characterized by wide chest, tall and deep body, uniform feet and angular and deep heel and a mammary system characterized by soft texture, strong median suspensory ligament, deep udder and good dairy character.