___ cow (black bovine with a white belt around its middle)

OREO

Think of a cookie that shares its name with a cow’s distinctive black-and-white pattern.

This clue plays on the Oreo cookie’s nickname—the "Oreo cow"—because its black-and-white design resembles a cow with a white belt around its middle. The blank asks for a word that fits both the visual (a cow pattern) and the brand name, making "OREO" the answer. It’s a fun reference to how people sometimes joke about the cookie looking like a tiny dairy cow.