Dutch Belted (also known as Lakenvelder) are a dairy cattle
raised primarily for milk production; but are also good for meat production.
In the 1830s, the Dutch Belted cattle were first imported
into the United States. There the breed was exhibited as a rare breed of cattle
by P.T. Barnum in his traveling circus. The Dutch Belted Cattle Association of
America herdbook was established in 1886. The Association still continues today
as the oldest continual registry for the breed worldwide. And the breed became
well established in the United States and continued in popularity until about
1940. But the total number of the animals declined worldwide to the point of
near-extinction during the 1900s. Currently the Dutch Belted cattle are listed
as ‘critical’ by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy on the Conservation
Priority list. Today the total population of the breed is estimated at less
than 300 in the United States and fewer than 1000 worldwide.
The Dutch Belted cattle are medium sized with belted color
pattern. They have base color of either black or dusky red. The black base
color is most common. And the most distinguishing characteristic of the breed
is the wide belt of white around it’s middle, placed between the shoulders and
the hips. Naturally both bulls and cows have horns, and their horns are long
and curved slightly upward at the points.
About Dutch Belted Cattle
