Use of multivariate analysis for production systems identification

Abstract

The identification of production systems actually used by producers is very important for agricultural research and rural extension institutions whose interest is generation and diffusion of technologies compatible with producers reality. The main objective of this study is the identification, followed by decription, of milk production systems using a combination of cluster and factorial analysis. The systems with different structure and technology were identified. Multivariate techniques showed to be efficient for grouping producers when many variables are used instead of only one variable of stratification.