Characterization of Mountainous Production Systems in Quimiag Parrish, Chimborazo province, Ecuador

This study characterizes and typifies dairy areas in the Quimiag parish, Ecuador, using quantitative and qualitative information simultaneously, of production indicators, current technological development, management of dairy cows and the human resources employed. A total of 291 dairy areas were analyzed with three different techniques of multivariate statistical analysis: Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), and Cluster Analysis (CA). Three production groups or systems were observed to have different efficiency responses. System number three was characterized by having more intensive production systems on average, along with a more advanced technological development than systems one and two