In this study 9,527 lactations of purebreed Holstein cows, calved between 1988 to 1997, from herds in the Minas Gerais State, were analysed. Two data sets were established: one with first lactations only and another with the first lactation until the third one. Milk and fat 305-day yields were analysed using a multivariate mixed model and restricted maximum likelihood procedure (REML). The milk and fat 305 days yields averages were respectively 5,870 ± 1,662 kg and 199 ± 55 kg for set I and 5,521 ± 1,523 kg and 187 ± 50 kg for set II in the first lactation, and 6,421 ± 1,789 kg and 215 ± 58 kg for the second lactation, and 7,045 ± 1,903 kg and 231 ± 60 kg for the third lactation, respectively. Heritabilities estimated for milk and fat yields in set I (first lactation) were .28 ± .04 and .20 ± .03 and using the set II, were .16 ± .09 e .9 ± .9 for milk and fat yields in the first lactation, .17 ± .11 and .20 ± .11 for second one, and .16 ± .10 and .10 ± .16 in third lactation, respectively. Genetic correlations were high and ranged from .86 to 1.0.
fat yield; genetic parameters; milk yield
