We really are not in the cattle ranching business. But the Belted Galloways are an excellent conversation piece. These are good-natured beasts as cows go and can make your compost pile thrive. But be warned: if you want to have Belted Galloways as "lawn ornaments" be prepared for a second job. They are not considered dairy cattle and are considerably more high maintenance than your yard cat. The vet will have to make house calls.

The academic part:

Belted Galloways are thought to be related to the cattle brought to Great Britain by the Vikings. They come from the hill country of Dumfries and Galloway in the southwest of Scotland.

These cattle come from the hardiest of stock that from early times were forced to graze and survive in some of the roughest terrain and elements of Scotland.

For years the belted cattle, often called "Belties," were registered in the Polled Herd Book that was started in 1852 and registered Aberdeen-Angus and Galloways. In 1878 the Galloway breeders acquired rights to their portion of the herd book. Later the Dun and Belted Galloway Association was formed. After 1951 the name of the organization was changed to the Belted Galloway Society and dun cattle were no longer registered.

The first Belted Galloways were imported to the United States by Harry A. Prock, Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania in 1950. There have been limited importations of the breed since that time but the number brought have not been large.

Some general characteristics

It is claimed that the Belted Galloways are larger, milk heavier, and grow more rapidly than the parental breed. The distinctive white belt found in Belted Galloways often varies somewhat in width and regularity but usually covers most of the body from the shoulders to the hooks. The white contrast to the black coat, which may have a brownish tinge in the summer, sets the breed apart with its striking color pattern. The fore part of the udder may be within the white belt.