Adaptability of Polish Red cows to extensive conditions

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Livestock Genetics
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Polish Red cattle are an ancient dual-purpose breed native to Europe.
• Indigenous cattle breeds possess unique genetic resources for adaptation.
• Extensive farming systems present environmental challenges for livestock.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the adaptive capacity of Polish Red cattle under extensive 'bale grazing' conditions.
• To compare the performance of Polish Red cattle in extensive versus traditional housing systems.
• To evaluate the breed's suitability for sustainable livestock production in variable climates.

Main Methods:

• Two groups of 22 pregnant Polish Red cows were studied: extensive (EXT) and traditional (TRAD) housing.
• Data collected included body weight, body condition score (BCS), calf growth, milk yield, and blood indices.
• Statistical analysis used independent-samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U test.

Main Results:

• Cows in the EXT group maintained comparable body condition and health to the TRAD group despite harsh conditions.
• TRAD group calves had significantly higher body weight (29 kg, p≤0.01).
• EXT group cows supported calf survival with minimal weight loss (<1% of initial body weight), showing resilience.

Conclusions:

• Polish Red cattle exhibit significant adaptability to extensive farming systems.
• The breed is a valuable genetic resource for sustainable and climate-resilient livestock production.
• Findings support biodiversity conservation and climate-smart cattle breeding in Europe.