About Our Oreos

Take a drive to see Sandbrock Ranch, and the first thing that might catch your eye is a long stretch of white, cross-buck fencing that encloses a tranquil front meadow. In that meadow, you’ll spy the newest residents of our community — a small herd of adorable striped cows.

 

It’s a common sight these days to see folks strolling along the fence line, taking pics and pointing to our popular friends grazing peacefully or enjoying a midday snooze. Nicknamed “Oreo” cows, these youngsters have raised a lot of attention and some curious questions, as well.

Here are some quick facts you may not know about our community cows:

 

What kind of cows are they?
The cows are Belted Galloways, a breed that originated from western Scotland. Common nicknames for these cattle are ‘Belties’ or even ‘Oreo cows’ due to their resemblance to the popular chocolate cookie with a creme center.

 

How many are there?
We have seven steers, or neutered males. Six are black-and-whites, and one is red and white.

 

How old are they?
Our Oreo cows are still young – not even a year old yet, in fact! Just like growing children, we have one who is quite a bit larger than the others, and one who is smaller than his meadow-mates.

 

What do they eat?
We make sure our youngsters have plenty of grain-based feed and rolls of hay to eat. You can spot them having their meals twice a day under the loafing shed, which is across the street from our model homes. Belted Galloways are also known for their browsing ability, giving them added value in the management and diversification of grasslands.

 

How big will they get?
Our Oreo cows are medium in size when compared to other breeds. They will weigh in at 700-800 pounds once they are fully grown.

 

Who cares for them?
Sandbrock Ranch has an equine operations manager who oversees the care of our Oreo cows. If you happen to see Jamie (or his son Justin) tending to the herd, feel free to give them a “howdy” or a friendly wave as you go past.

 

Can I pet them?
Docile by nature, our Oreo cows are also on the shy side when it comes to getting too close to them. You can probably get within 10 feet to take a pic, but please do not attempt to climb the fence.

 

How do they handle changing weather conditions?
Belted Galloways are double-coated, allowing them to thrive in harsh winter climates. They shed their wavy coat in summer, so they do well in warm climates, too.

 

Why does Sandbrock Ranch have cows?
Because they’re adorable, of course! And who doesn’t love a friendly face to come home to?[vc_column][lab_hs_forms]

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