The Dutch Black Pied (HF) (aka Holstein-Friesian; Zwartbont (HF) in Dutch) did not always look the way it does today.

Originally, cattle of Friesland and Holland were mostly red (with or without white markings). It is believed that they are now black pied in coloration because of the influence and selection of black pied Juttish cattle from Denmark.

Each spring in the early 17th century, Friesland dairy cattle were stabled in Holland for milking. Then, herds of skinny cattle driven from Jutland (of Denmark) and Schleswig-Holstein (of Germany) arrived to meet the additional demand for beef.

Great numbers of Friesian cattle died during the cattle plagues of the 18th century. So the skinny black pied runts from Denmark and Germany were used selectively to help restore the national Dutch herd.

HF = Holstein-Friesian

See the other breeds of:
The Netherlands at The Cow Wall®