The Dutch Belted (Lakenvelder) breed of dairy cattle is according to records the only belted breed of cattle tracing back directly to the original belted or canvassed cattle which were described in Switzerland and Austria. These Gurtenvieh were evidently moved by Dutch nobility from the mountain farms of canton Appenzell and County of Tyrol Mountains during or soon after the feudal period. The Dutch were very protective of their belted cattle and would generally not part with them.