The Beauties we call “The Belties.”
Belted Galloway cattle or Belties are a heritage breed believed to have originated in the rugged hill country of southwestern Scotland. They were imported to North America beginning in the 1940s. While Beltie numbers had dwindled worldwide the Livestock Conservancy now lists the breed as recovering.
Belties are medium sized cattle with a white belt around the middle with black or dun colors at the head and tail. This gives Belties their distinctive “Oreo cookie” look.
Beneath their flashy appearance is an amazing animal. Belties have a two-layer coat that sheds water and snow, insulates and allows them to thrive in cold climates. In the summer they shed this coat and tolerate warm climates. Belties don’t have horns and are relatively docile around people. Beltie cows have smaller calves, calve easily and are great mothers. Belties are surefooted, and will gladly eat vegetation most other cattle would not. Belties are hardy and resistant to most diseases. Testing found Galloway beef to be very lean, yet among the best from any breed for tenderness, juiciness and flavor. Check out the Beltie.org for more information on the advantages of Beltie beef.
So why aren’t Belties more popular? They grow slower than other breeds to only a medium size. So if you are looking to mass-produce large cattle as quick as possible Belties won’t work.