Oreo Cows Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
These animals have fascinated me ever since I first saw them - stop a minute somewhere along here where you can safely look and admire - and pick up a cache, too.
Oreo Cows- Belted Galloways
Near here you can spot a herd of unusual black and white cattle in a field that are descendants of a rare beef breed of cattle called Belted Galloways, but commonly referred to as “Oreo Cows” because of their striking markings. They originated in Galloway in Southwest Scotland, where they adapted to life on the poor upland pastures and windswept moors of the region. These sturdy Galloway cattle are thought to be one of the oldest of beef breeds and may have been crossed with imported Dutch Belted dairy cattle, called Lakenvelders, to yield the Belted Galloway.
According to the U.S. Belted Galloway Society, the first "Belties" came to the United States in 1939, when Alice McLean of New York imported a bull and a dozen bred heifers from Great Britain. Tragically, about 10 years later while she was away in England, an unscrupulous herdsman butchered and sold off her rare cattle as black-market beef.
The next imports arrived in 1950, brought from Scotland to Pennsylvania's Hapwood Farm by Harry Prock, who later founded the American Belted Galloway Breeders Association together with two more Beltie enthusiasts, Charles Wells of Michigan and H. Gordon Green of Quebec.
Fifteen years ago, The North American Livestock Census listed Belted Galloways in the “rare” category on their Conservation Priority List, meaning the breed had an estimated global population of less than 5,000 and fewer than 1,000 registrations in North America. The population has multiplied several times since then but is still numbered only in the few tens of thousands worldwide. Most in the US are in the eastern part of the country or California.
Galloway cattle are naturally polled. The most visible characteristics of the Belted Galloway are its long hair coat and the broad white belt that completely encircles the body. Its coarse outer coat helps shed the rain, and its soft undercoat provides insulation and waterproofing, enabling the breed to successfully overwinter outside. Black Belties are most prominent, but Dun and Red Belties are also recognized.
Bulls weigh from 1,700 pounds to 2,300 pounds and average about 1,800 pounds. Cows weigh from 1,000 pounds to 1,500 pounds and average about 1,250 pounds. Calves generally weigh from 40 pounds to 60 pounds. Belties generally have a quiet temperament, but a strong maternal instinct will cause them to protect a calf against perceived threats.
Belties are well-suited for rough grazing land and will utilize coarse grasses other breeds would shun. They are able to maintain good condition on less than ideal pasture, and produce a high quality beef product on grass alone. Galloway crossbreed beef places at the top of the chart for flavor, juiciness and tenderness when compared to eleven other breeds.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Thneq jryy gur frperg ybpngvba
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures