If you notice, most of the black and white cows are mainly milk herds.
Also, they are strikingly visible in the two color shades from a distance, so elderly owners would prefer these animals.
If you want to find the best black and white cow breeds, here is a complete list.
1. Holstein Friesian
This is the most popular dairy breed worldwide.
Holstein Friesian cows have irregular black-and-white patches all over their bodies.
They can produce 22000- 25000 lbs of milk per year, which is a very high yield compared to other dairy cow breeds.
Native to the Netherlands and Germany, these herds are large animals with calves weighing 90 lbs at birth. The adult cattle stand 58 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh about 1500 lbs.
Though these are large herds, they are gentle, smart, and easy to handle. You can own them for both small-scale homesteads and commercial farms.
Holstein Friesians can do well in a stable and grazing system.
So, if you want to raise them, you may require 2-3 acres of land per herd.
2. British Friesian
Earlier, Friesian cows were imported to Britain in the 19th century. When the cattle developed mouth and foot disease in 1890, they were restricted from shipping.
Those cows that stayed in Britain became British Friesian cows.
British Friesians are around 5.9 inches shorter than Holstein Friesians. But they have a more filled-out look that makes them look like beef and dairy herds.
These cows have moderate milk production but better longevity. They have strong fertility and grazing ability and are Ideal for pasture-based systems.
3. Dutch Belted
Dutch Belted cows are a dual-purpose breed, meaning you can raise them for both milk and beef.
But what I find is that their meat yield is low, while the meat quality is good.
Anyway, they hail from the Netherlands and have been popular since 1600.
While bulls weigh 1350-2000 lbs, cows average 900-1500 lbs. You can expect cows to produce 12000-15000 lbs during the lactation period. Their milk has a richer taste, with 3.5-5.5% butterfat.
As they have small bones, Dutch Belted cows are blessed with easy calving.
They have two shade-belted coats, with black on each side and white in the middle, gradually fading onto the back, flanks, and belly.
With their triple-wedge shape of milk cows, they boast a straight top line, deep middle, extended rump, and nice spring of rib.
Dutch Belted are small-boned, making them very easy calving. They have unusual longevity and fertility, high meat yield, and friendly dispositions.
These cows are smart and human-friendly, making a good herd for beginners and family-owned farms.
4. Panda Cow
This is one of the miniature cow breeds and mimics Dutch Belted and Belted Galloway cows in appearance.
Panda cows boast bear-like markings and white middle and black on the sides in three sections of their body.
You can identify them by their eyes, with black ovals around and a white belly.
While other cows weigh 4,000 lbs, these mini cows are only a few hundred pounds.
They are unique for their visual appearance and are best suited for hobby farms and conservation.
5. Lineback Cattle
Originally, Lineback cattle were used as all-purpose herds (dairy, beef, and draft).
Also known as Randall, the Lineback is an American heritage breed. They have black on the sides with a white line down the black and along the belly.
The cattle have a Witrick-patterned body, which includes speckled or dark sides, black eyes, ears, and nose.
If you notice Gloucester linebacks, they boast a solid black head, legs, sides, and a white belly, and white garters around the tops of the legs.
Also, they have white stripes running down the back, especially from head to tail.
Anyway, Linebacks are medium-sized cattle with bulls weighing 1000-1800 lbs and cows averaging around 600-1100 lbs.
6. Belted Galloway (Black & White Variant)
Do you know that Belted Galloways are the traditional Scottish beef cattle?
While bulls are 1600-2200 lbs in weight, cows weigh 950-1300 lbs. Their long frame for high-quality meat cuts and hides for rugs make these good beef herds.
Besides beef, owners also keep them for ornament or for conservation grazing.
Belted Galloways have white belts in the middle to deep belly and all black in the rest of the body.
They can survive even on the poor pasture. These herds are skilled browsers and grazers that live on coarse grasses and thrive in various grasslands.
Also, they are milkier, and their calves grow more rapidly than their parents.
If you notice, you find Belted Galloways with a thick coat that makes them cold-hardy livestock. They are often seen outdoors in winter.
7. Normande (Black & White Variants)
Normandes is a French dual-purpose breed of medium-sized herd.
Bulls are 2000-2400 lbs in weight, while cows weigh 1200-1500 lbs. They have good body length and depth in conformation, and a spring of rib, making them one of the best beef cattle breeds.
Also, they have clean fronts and a strong topline.
You can tell them by their speckled or black pied coat. They have more or less black spots or splashes over the white body.
A white head, dark spots around their eyes, and a dark muzzle are additional characteristics.
These cows are fertile and make good mothers. Their calves weigh 70 lbs-95 lbs at birth.
You can expect the average milk yield of 14000 lbs per lactation. Their milk has 4.2% butterfat and 3.5% protein, which is great for making cheese and butter.
8. Montbéliarde
Though Montbéliardes are raised as dairy cows, they produce less milk than modern Holsteins.
But they have beef strains than Holstein cattle. They grow rapidly and have a nice body frame.
Their calves and young bulls are highly valued for this reason. The cull cattle yield nice carcasses with no extra fat.
While bulls weigh 2000 lbs-2600 lbs, cows are 1300 lbs-1500 lbs in weight.
You can tell Montbéliarde cows by their black-and-white coat, white head, and short horns.
They are heat-tolerant and thrive in rough forage, so they make good herds in the tropical regions.
9. Ayrshire (Black & White Cross Patterns)
Yes, Ayrshires are also in black and white.
In fact, they are black pied herds. They have a white coat with dark spots and speckles. They also have stylish booted legs and lyre‑shaped horns.
These are medium-sized cattle with bulls averaging about 1600 lbs and cows weighing 1100 lbs.
Every year, they can produce 20000 lbs of milk with 3.30% protein and 4.13% butterfat.
They are very hardy and easily tolerate harsh cold and winter, as well as rugged environments.
10. Girolando
Girolandos are a hybrid cattle breed from Brazil, which dates back to the 1940s. They are a result of crossing between Gir cattle (from India) and Holstein cows.
They are heat-tolerant and disease-resistant, making them ideal herds for tropical climates.
The cattle are all black with white beneath, including the belly.
They produce calves at 30 months old. And at age 10, they reach peak milk production.
You can expect about 8000 lbs of milk yield per lactation in 305 days.
11. Norwegian Red (Black & White Patterns)
Despite their name, Norwegian Red cows are also in black and white. They are black pied in a white coat.
Bulls average 1980 lbs in weight, while cows weigh about 1050 lbs-1320 lbs.
The cows produce moderate milk with a yield of 13600 lbs per year.
12. Fleckvieh (Black & White Variants)
Fleckvieh cattle are a result of crossing Simmental cattle. They are a dual-purpose herd with decent milk and beef strains.
They can produce 15000 lbs-19000 lbs of milk per lactation.
As a beef herd, they grow faster and produce nice carcasses with little fat.
Anyway, Fleckvieh are black pied on a white body. Mostly, they have white faces with dark patches around their eyes.
Final Thoughts
These cow breeds have different coat color variations, but somehow they have a black-and-white version.
Belted, pied, or speckled, they look amazing in the grassland.
If you are only starting with the herd, I suggest you own a medium-sized dual breed for a few years.
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