Use of permanova analiysis in animal science data and investigation of the effects of distance measurements

In this study, it was aimed to compare the changes in some milk contents (milk fat, dry matter, protein) of Holstein cows in feeding type and feeding periods by using PERMANOVA analysis with different distance measures. For this purpose, the monthly average milk fat, milk dry matter and milk protein measurements of 30 Holstein cattle raised in a private livestock enterprise named Karsüt in Zile District of Tokat province were used in 2024 in the milk of the animals milked in the enterprise according to the feeding method in 3-month periods. Euclidean, Bray-Curtis and Manhattan distance measures were used as distance measures in the study. In the study, both one-way and two-way models gave similar results for the appropriate number of permutations. In the study, although statistical differences were observed in milk fat and dry matter among milk contents according to feeding periods, no statistical difference was observed for protein.