Overview

Commonly called "Oreo cattle" because of their black color (possibly brown or red) with a white stripe through their middles, this breed started in Scotland as a solid-color cow, but got their belts through the introduction of Dutch Belted blood.

Details

They were first imported to the U.S. in 1950. Although Belted Galloways are often purchased for their ornamental qualities, they do produce lean, quality beef. They're a medium-sized breed, but their carcass dressed weights can exceed 60% of their live weight. Belties have a double coat of hair, which allows them to keep warm in the winter without developing a layer of backfat like some other breeds.