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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.
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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 saddle.
Early Ranchers • 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, that 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. Most notable were 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.
