The aim of this work was to evaluate the morphological characteristics such as number density, coat thickness and length of predominantly black lactating graded Holstein cows, in the region of Montes Claros in the north of Minas Gerais. The study was conducted in two phases, A: July/August and B: October/November 2010, using 12 lactating female Holstein crossbred dairy cows with predominant black coat. We measured the characteristics of numerical density (number of hair/cm²), thickness (mm) length (mm) and coat surface temperature (CST). Three samples of hair of each animal were taken at each stage through adjusted pliers. The results showed that the coat was less dense, with shorter hair in phase B, and the thickness did not change in the two phases. In the period when the coat was denser, that is, phase A, there was lower CTS. The observed coat characteristics of graded Holstein cows indicate good adaptation to environmental conditions in the region.
bovine; density; hair coat; length; season; thickness
