Here is some info about the breed Dylan.
The origin of Dutch Belted or Lakenvelder cattle is not known, however it is believed they originate from Austria and Switzerland, where they were moved by dutch nobility to the Netherlands . They have existed as a pure breed since the sixteen hundreds.
The name Lakenvelder or Lakenfield cattle derives from the word "laken" meaning a sheet or cloth, referring to the white band passing around the body. In some countries animals with this marking are known as "sheeted" cattle.
This belt or sheet is of pure white hair extending from the shoulders to the hip bones and should encircle the body completely. The cattle are otherwise black (or occasionally red). In their original form they were horned and primarily a dairy breed – comparing favourably with the Holstein in milk yield.
By the 1930s Lakenvelder numbers were very low in the Netherlands and the Herd Book was closed. In the 1970s a Trust was set up to save them from extinction in their own country. However, the breed had been exported to the USA as early as 1838 and spread to both Canada and Mexico; it still has good support throughout North America.
Bulls average 200lbs and cows average 900-1300 lbs they are beef and dairy Lakenvelders
My husbands dad manages one of the top herds in Holland at the castle so they still are very much a "nobility" breed there. Btw I would just about kill to have there calving barn :shock: I agree they are pretty to look at too DC, but I will take my Gelbvieh's instead . The FIL was just walking by a cow with a calf a few years ago and she tossed him 20 feet in the air , he is lucky to be alive and he is with these cows ,day in and day out and they are all very used to him. So I think they have a small disposition problem. ;-)
Only have 6 left to calve so almost done, calving season this year will be about 7-8 weeks long I hope. All the girls I AI'd except one, who I still have yet to get to settle to AI ,all did on first service. Had another one born last night at midnight in almost 40 below weather so she spent the night in the shop . Mom was very relieved to get her back and I was relieved she was so happy to see her. :lol2:
Hubby was cleared for light duty yesterday . He got his surgical cast removed and a waling cast on . He still cannot put weight on it for 2 more weeks but the surgeon was more than pleased with how it is healing and stitching together.
Now I need to look for a heifer bull in the next couple of weeks, Maximus is throwing larger calves than I would like the heifers to have to deal with and if next year we have another record cold winter then birth weights will be up higher again.
