The objectives of this work was to evaluate possible changes in the morphological measurements among genetic groups (GG) Indubrazil, Nellore and Tabapuan and among the GG of their daughters F1 Holstein x Indubrazil (HxI), Holstein x Nellore (HxN) e Holstein x Tabapuan (HxT), besides the heritability estimates coefficients (h²) for these traits. Least square method was used to verify the differences on the morphological traits among GG and to obtain h² estimates from dam-daughter regression (RFM). The REML method was also used to obtain h² estimates. Data were recorded on 183 zebu cows and 273 F1Holstein x Zebu heifers. The GG of the F1 heifers was important for its registration in the open book Girolando Association, because the GG obtained different scores for type, general appearance and dairy characteristics. For these three traits, the crossbred HxI heifers obtained higher scores than the HxN heifers; the HxT heifers obtained intermediate scores. There were no differences among the morphological traits, the width between hips and pins, the rump length, body depth and wither height and body weight for the three zebus GG and among their F1Holstein x Zebu progenies. The heritability estimate changed from .09 (body depth) to .59 (ear length) by RFM and from .09 to .89 (the same traits) by REML method. The results indicated that, in a breeding system with a Holstein breed for the production of F1 heifers to sell, the GG Indubrasil produced better characterized animals as the Girolando breed, which, possibly, will obtain higher commercial appeal than the GG Tapabuan and Nellore. Additionally, the heritability estimates indicated that the selection for morphological traits would lead to direct reasonable response.
crossbred; dairy; type; genetic parameters; Girolando