Transcript Ranching and Farming

Ranching and
Farming
Cattle Kingdoms
•
The first cattle to come into America were
brought by the Spanish. Over time, cattle
escaped creating wild cattle in Texas.
Cattle Kingdoms
• The climate, abundant water supply, and
nutritious grass made Texas ideal for
cattle country.
• Raising cattle began on the open range
which was public land that belonged to
anyone.
Cattle Kingdoms
• After
claiming
their cattle,
people began
branding
them to show
ownership.
Early Ranchers
• Many Anglos adopted Spanish and Mexican
customs to help them in the cattle industry:
relying more on horses, developing roping skills,
wearing chaps and using more advanced saddles.
Early Ranchers
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Anglos faced many challenges: theft and
drought were common. The major
problem was the lack of markets. Most
cattle were slaughtered for hides and
tallow (fat) which was shipped easily but
brought little profit.
Trail Driving Opens the Cattle
Market

During the Civil War, herds were
neglected, became wild, and multiplied
causing prices in the South to fall to $4 a
head. However, people in the North and
East paid $30 - $40 dollars a head.
Trail Driving Opens the Cattle
Market
• Since the expansion westward of the
railroad, cattle could be driven to
railroad towns. They could drive
2000 cattle for $1 a head.
Cattle Drives
Originally, the
main cattle trail
was the Sedalia
or Shawnee Trail
which went
through Missouri.
But Missouri
farmer
complained of
their farms being
destroyed and
that cattle
brought diseases
to other animals.
Cattle Drives
•
These people began building fences and
barriers. They persuaded railroads to
move west to solve this problem and also
starting other cattle trails.
Life on the Trail Drives
•
Days went from sunup to sundown with a small break for
lunch. The two most skillful cowhands rode lead, others
on the side and two or three in the rear called the drag
position.
Life on the Trail Drives
•
They also had a chuck wagon responsible
for the food.
Life on the Trail Drives
• They traveled 10-15 miles a
day and had to stand guard at
night to prevent stampedes or
Natives attacking. To cross
through the reservations, they
had to pay a toll.
Life on the Trail Drives
•
Trail driving ended shortly after 1885.
Supply outgrew the demand for cattle
causing prices to fall. Also barbed wire was
put up and blocked the path.
Big Ranches – 1885
•
With Natives removed, land was open for ranches. The
most notable ranch owner was Richard King, who died in
1885, but his ranch was enlarged to 1 million acres and
100,000 head of livestock.
Big Ranches – 1885
•
Charles Goodnight
partnered up with
John Adair and had
1 million acres and
100,000 head of
cattle. He also had
a buffalo herd. He
crossbred cattle and
created some of the
best beef.
Big Ranches – 1885
• Catching and selling mustangs
became big at this time. When
mustang profits went down, sheep
industry replaced them
Barbed Wire – 1873
• Barbed wire was invented and could be
made cheap. Cattle and sheep raisers
began fencing in their land.
• In this process, they cut off the water
supply to other ranchers’ herds. Fence
cutting wars between farmers and
ranchers soon followed.
• Texas legislature made this a felony.
Barbed Wire – 1873
•
Windmills became big for pumping
water from wells on enclosed lands.
Ranching Declines

In the late 1880s, ranching declined for several
reasons:



Too many cattle meant falling prices.
Overgrazing ruined land.
Blizzards and droughts.