In the breed's prime, the Dutch Belted or Lakenvelder cow was one of the most prized items in the Netherlands! Today, however, the breed's blood has been so diluted with crossbreeding that this lovely, productive breed has nearly faded out.

Dutch Belted Cattle are extremely valued not only for their unusual and lovely markings, and high productivity but for their sweet, placid temperaments. They are highly adaptable and do very well in most management systems. Dutch Belted Cattle are friendly and docile and are truly an asset to any farm.

At maturity, Dutch Belted bulls weigh from 900 to 1,000 kilograms and cows are between 550 and 650 kilograms. Bulls stand 135 to 140 centimeters at the shoulder and cows are ten centimeters shorter. The are medium framed and have horns. The most striking thing about the Dutch Belted is its head-turning coloration. Most of the animals are primarily black, although about a quarter are brown. A wide, white belt runs around the entire cow, between the withers and the rump. It usually includes the udder and must be at least six inches wide. This belt is the only mark seen on a Dutch Belted cow! Used as a dual-purpose breed, Dutch Belted Cattle have flavorful meat and a good carcass yield. They are extremely valued as milch cows, and produce on average about 5,000 kilograms of milk per year.

Dutch Belted Cattle originated in Holland, and were valued as royal animals! They are described in literature and depicted in paintings as early as the 1600's! Although their origins are obscure, Dutch Belted Cattle probably arose from belted cattle found in Germany and Switzerland, which the Dutch nobility imported. Extremely protective of their lovely, useful cows, the Dutch refused to export them! By 1750, the breed was flourishing, and it was not until 1840 that a Dutch Belted cow was exported! It went to P.T. Barnum, along with five others, and was used on display in his circus! Barnum's cows were retired on a farm, and a few others were imported until 1906, when the United States refused to import any more cattle because of Foot and Mouth Disease. The American Dutch Belted herd book was established in 1886 and the breed was valued as dairy producers. Between 1950 and 1976, Dutch Belted Cattle were excessively crossbred and cattle with odd markings began to be born. Today, with less than 200 animals, the United States holds the largest pure Dutch Belted herd in the world! In Holland, the Dutch Belted herd book was reestablished in 1976 and semen has been imported from the American herd to improve the Dutch cattle! In the United States, over 98 percent of Dutch Belted Cattle are well marked and the breed is still valued for its dairy and beef purposes.

Dutch Belted Cattle have very easily digestible milk, due to its high fat and protein ratio. Its curd is soft and the cows themselves are easily managed. They do best when raised in semi-intensive management systems in which they are fed mainly grass or pastured in grass.

Dutch Belted Cattle are good milkers and mothers. They have easy calvings because of the calves' small bone structures. This trait also makes them highly valued as cross breeders, since the calves fatten quickly! Dutch Belted Cattle are so rare that they must be responsibly bred. There are artificial insemination programs in place along with a number of sires represented in frozen sperm.