CHAPTER XVI 

 DUTCH BELTED 



The peculiarly marked breed of dairy cattle known in this 

 country as the Dutch Belted, because of their color markings, are 

 the production of the skill of the breeders in North Holland. 

 Something more than 200 years ago the nobility of Holland for 

 some reason fancied cattle of black and white color, but seem- 

 ingly chose that the white should be in one piece extending around 

 the middle of the animal. In Holland this breed goes by the 

 name of " Lahenvelden," which means white field, but is also 

 said to convey the idea of the " white body with black ends." 

 These animals are, in all probability, closely related to the Hol- 

 steins or the descendants of the animals from which the present 

 Holsteins have sprung. The Hampshire hogs of America and 

 England, supposed to have originated in Hampshire, England, 

 and also the Lahenvelden poultry of England and America, both 

 of which have the white band about the middle with black extrem- 

 ities, are also, in all probability, the production of Holland skill. 

 From a study of the size and general characteristics of the Dutch 

 Belted cattle, it would seem evident that considerable difficulty 

 had been experienced in the establishment of so odd a marking. 

 No record is available, however, indicating the amount of in- 

 breeding or breeding to physically inferior animals which may 

 have been necessary during the earlier days of the establishment 

 of the breed. The by-laws of breed associations of the present 

 time conclude with : " White spots on an animal other than the 

 feet, the belt, and the tip of switch considered a disqualification 

 for registry. Color other than black and white or deformed or 

 constitutionally defective, considered a disqualification. Beef 

 form or absence of milk form emphatically objectionable." 



Importation to America. — Although the breed attracted 

 attention in Europe as early as 1750 there is no record of any 

 having been introduced to America until 1838, when D. A. 

 Haight brought over a few animals. In 1848 a second lot was 



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