Belted Cattle

When I first noticed belted cattle, I thought they looked more like some of the hogs my dad used to raise. But these breeds are actually old ones, and they're becoming popular again. Two of the better known belted bovines are the Belted Galloway from southwestern Scotland and the Dutch Lakenvelder from Holland. 

The Galloways adapted to the poor grassland of the uplands and the windswept moors. These cattle have high quality marbled beef and are usually raised for their meat, although they can also provide milk. In America they have the nickname of "Oreo cows," due to their color. 

The Dutch Lakenvelders are probably the oldest of the two and were highly sought after and admired by most people from royalty and noblemen to the the common farmer. They can be traced back to the original belted breed. They began to flourish in Holland in the mid-1700's. P.T. Barnum used them for exhibition. This breed is usually raised as dairy cattle. They can be black or reddish brown with the white band, but their hides are smoother than that of the Galloway.

My father used to raise a few head of cattle. In fact, he saved the money from their sales to put me through college. My son-in-law now farms on the side and has a small herd. Neither of them have ever had a belted breed, but I find them interesting. As you drive through a farm area, you may want to look for them.

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