This study aimed to characterize the dairy producers in Territory of Itapetinga region using a semi-structured questionnaire. Seventeen dairy producers were interviewed and stratified into: small (up to 50kg milk/day), medium (51 to 200kg of milk/day) and large (more than 200kg of milk/day). The data analysis was performed using one-dimensional analysis and nonparametric analysis. Small producers have not been identified. Of all dairy producers interviewed, 17.6% were characterized as medium and 82.4% as large dairy producers. The average time in dairy activity was 22 years to medium dairy producers and 20 years to large dairy producers. The herd genetic composition was crossbreed Zebu x Taurus. The average milk production was 1260kg/milk/lactation to medium dairy producers and 1594kg/milk/lactation to large dairy producers. The lactation period was 274 days to both strata. The age at first calving ranged from 25 to 28 months, respectively, to large or medium dairy producers. The calving interval was 406 days to medium dairy producers and 480 days to large producers. All interviewed dairy producers vaccine their herds against foot and mouth disease. Only one dairy producer realizes the tuberculin´s test. The production systems evaluated showed low use of technologies and require a strategic management to improve animal production.
healthiness; prophylaxis; ruminal diagnosis; system approach