Med. Weter. 82 (9), 440-447, 2026
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| KLAUDIA HERMAN-OSTRZYŻEK, ANNA NOWACZEK, RENATA URBAN-CHMIEL |
| Adaptation of Scottish Highland cattle to wet and swampy lowland areas in Poland as an example of welfare |
| Over the last 10 to 20 years, Highland cattle have gained popularity in Poland and around the World. Farmers appreciate the breed’s high resistance to unfavourable environmental conditions and certain diseases, as well as their low demands, which make it easy to maintain profitable production. Unfortunately, because cattle of this breed were originally bred under different environmental conditions, they had to adapt to new conditions in Eastern Europe, including Poland, which could have adversely affected their welfare as well as production parameters. Observations of Highland cattle conducted over a three-month period, together with information obtained from farmers covering a period of five years, were used to assess the behaviour of cattle during grazing and the maternal instinct of cows. Certain production parameters were assessed as well, such as cases of mastitis, lameness, length of gestation, birth weight of calves, the number of culled individuals, stillborn calves and calves that died after birth, average milk yield and colostrum quality. The parameters confirm that Highland cattle were well adapted to the temperate climate conditions characteristic of south-eastern Poland. |
| Keywords: Highland cattle, beef cattle, welfare |