These cattle originated in central and upper Belgium and they, at one time, accounted for nearly half of the cattle in the national herd. Some sources also site the introduction of Charolais breeding throughout the 19th century. A true breeding policy was established in the early 20th century when the breed was established. At one time the breed was divided into two strains, one primarily for milk production and the other a beef animal.
Selection is now primarily for beef.
The Belgian Blue Breed of beef cattle is relatively new to the United States but is rapidly gaining acceptance with beef breeders and dairymen. Belgian Blue cattle as they exist today are the result of selective genetic breeding and development conducted in Belgium by Professor Hanset at the AI Center in the Province of Liege. In the late fifties, a debate arose among the breeders, the question being whether to maintain the dual-purpose type as it was or to select for more muscling. The muscling prevailed. From them came the model of the breed.