Oreo Cows in Brenham TX
We have passed these cows many times as we drove from Austin to Houston, and had always called them "oreo cows." As I drove back to Austin, with my trusty travel camera aboard, I decided that now was the time to take some images of these unusual bovines, and report to you on what I found.
The cows were so interested in eating that I had some trouble getting any of them to look up. I yelled a couple of times -- no response. Finally thought to honk the horn (that's what gets the goats' attention at the ranch), and one lady did get curious enough about what I was doing to look half-heartedly in my general direction.
The sound of the horn did attract the attention of some other cows, who came over the hill to see what was going on.
In doing the research on this particular breed of cow, I can only say thank goodness for Google! I typed in "black and white oreo cows" and Voila! several dozen chats and websites about the Belted Galloway or Highland Cow came up. The most interesting website that I found was Aldermere Farms in Maine. Lots of the chatters were impressed with this site as well. Check it out if you'd like. Lots of good info about these classy cows. Click on "Belties" on the left column for information on the heritage of the cattle on this historic farm.
Well, that's what is happening with me these days. Hope you and yours are doing well. Till next time,
Mike Z
UPDATE 1/17/09: We saw more Belties just south of Waco yesterday on our way to Dallas. I will try to get some photos on our way back if it's not too dark.
MONDAY: Well, it was too dark when we drove by last night, so I will try to get some more photos when I am up that way again.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Thanks to John and Alice for commenting on the post and letting me know about their findings about Dutch Belt cattle. Thanks, that was great!
Well I've seen allot of cows in my day but I've never seen or heard of these ones before! Way too cool! Thanks for showing them to us, Mike. Cheers Heather
ReplyDeleteYou're quite welcome! I have wanted to photograph them for quite some time, and the time just seemed right.
ReplyDeleteI repeat what I said in the blog, I love Google! That website never ceases to amaze me.
I think their nickname, "Belties," is kinda cool, but I like oreo cows better. :-)
All the best,
Mike Z
Yup, Google always amazes me too. The things you can type in, not knowing what they are and still find what you're looking for.
ReplyDeleteThey say the "Belties" are bred mostly for beef. Seems silly that they're not dairy cows, given the other nickname of "Oreo Cows". :)
HEHE oreo Cows thats funny. Out at are farm in Missouri we hd always had black or brown cattle, but never oreo cows thats crazy.
ReplyDeleteNow I'll know to honk the car horn to get a cow's attention - thanks, Michael - fun to know about Oreo/Beltie cows.
ReplyDeleteAnnie at the Transplantable Rose
Maybe it was just coincidence that the cow raised her head after the honking, but who's to know?
ReplyDeleteI will try again when we pass the "Waco Belties" tomorrow afternoon, if it's not too dark to get a shot. Wish me luck!
Mike Z
Hi Mike, thanks for the comment! and yes ofcause i saw your dino shots - great ones. i am sad that our exhibition here is nothing like the one that you visited and they sure looke alive on your pics :D
ReplyDeleteanyhow i have already many times looked at your cow pictures here in the last entry - and i can not stop to wonder .. what is wrong with them ... hehehee... seems like they have belts around them - is it to prevent them to eat themselves too fat?! hahaaa.... anyhow i have never seen cows like that before - pretty interesting!!!
When we lived n Houston, we visited the BlueBell Ice Cream plant in Brenham, TX. They told us these gorgeouos creatures were known as "Dutch Belts" as well as Oreo cows. When I googled "Dutch Belt cattle" I found they had been famously imported from Holland in 1840 by PT Barnum. They are a productive dairy breed--nearly endangered,......but hey, we don't want to keep you from having your own fun checking out "Dutch Belts.
ReplyDeleteJohn and Alice, now of Portland, OR
Hello John and Alice,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to MPM's and thanks for posting! I appreciate your adding to the "body of knowledge" about the Belties. Really cool about PT Barnum, I had not seen that in my searches on Google and Yahoo! search. A big part of the fun of this website is what other folks tell me about my interests!
Don't you love Blue Bell Ice Cream? We took the kids there a few years ago, and really enjoyed the tour, the plant, and especially the store! Gives me an idea for another post....
I have never visited Portland, but I hear it's great. Did you see the posts from Seattle and Olympia on MPM's? Our daughter lived on post at Ft Lewis until a couple of years ago, and we'll always treasure our visits there!
Come back again soon! I just took some photos of this year's Bluebonnet crop in Brenham and hope to have "the good ones" up on the site soon.
Best regards,
Mike Z
I saw those cows for the first time around 1971 when we were driving to Lake Sommerville from Houston. That was the only time I saw them although I always looked for them afterwards. For years I would tell people about the cows and they thought I was nuts. I was beginning to think I had dreamed them up since I couldn't find them again. Then in 1987, driving from Austin to Houston with a friend, I was telling her about the cows and that I had never seen them since then, and lo and behold, there they were! Shortly afterwards, I saw them in a magazine and around the same time, I met someone who said they were Dutch Belts. All of a sudden they were everywhere! hahaha!! I saw them a few more times after that and never got to take pictures. I will one of these days though!
ReplyDeleteThere is a small herd of belted galloway cows at whitney, tx just north of waco
ReplyDeleteTHERE ARE ALSO SOME "OREO COWS" OUTSIDE OF FREDERICKSBURG BEFORE YOU GET TO THE WILDSEED FARM. I AM ALSO FASCINATED BY THE COWS AND WOULD LIKE A COUPLE FOR MY RANCH, BUT HAVE NEVER STOPPED TO ASK ABOUT THEM.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm 6 yrs late, but I'm interested in the Dutch Belted cattle breed. It is a dairy breed, but slightly dual purpose having calves that grow decent for beef. The Belted Galloway is from Ireland, but they are believed to have received their color from the Dutch Belted, which before being refined in the Netherlands as a breed, came from Swiss "canvassed" cattle.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the Austin area and happy to learn there are some in this region as the breed is quite rare. It is listed as "critical" on the livestock breed conservancy's list.