A study was carried on performance of the Brown Swiss cattle with the objective of estimating adjustment factors, evaluate some environment and genetics factors that affect milk and fat yields and fat percentage, and estimate genetic parameters for this productive traits. It was appraised 11,189 lactations out of 5,382 Brown Swiss cows, from 1980 to 1999, originated from 201 herds, provided by milking record service accomplished by the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeder`s Association of Brazil. Productions were adjusted by a multiplicative factors for two milkings, 305-day and production at the mature age. The estimated averages and its standard deviation and the coefficient of variation for milk and fat yield and fat percentage were, respectively, 5,791.50 ± 1,211.58 kg and 20.92%; 217.25 ± 47.36 kg and 21.80% and 3.78 ± 0.34 and 9.16%, respectively. The effects of year and season of calving, year x season of calving interaction, herd and genetic group were significant, except for season of calving on fat percentage.Heritability estimates and repeatability for milk and fat yields were 0.37 and 0.40, and 0.36 and 0.37 respectively. Genetic correlation between milk and fat yield was 0.96. The obtained results showed the need to adjustment milk and fat yields for two milkings, 305-day and production at the mature age. It was concluded that the Brown Swiss breed has a great potential for production in Brazilian dairy herds.
adjustment factors; Brown Swiss; genetic parameters; productive characteristics
