 Notes  The development of the cattle industry from the Spanish origins to and the realities of the cowboy life. You NeedToday

Section I: Cattle Ranching in Spanish Texas  The first cattle were brought by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, and the Spanish established cattle ranchos in Mexico.  By the early 1700s the Spanish were moving herds of cattle and flocks of sheep north onto pastures in the San Antonio and Guadalupe River valleys.  These regions in Texas had good climate, water supply, and plentiful grasses.

Cattle Ranching in Spanish Texas  In the 1750s a new ranching frontier was opened along the lower Rio Grande Valley.  As the number of cattle ranches grew, disputes arose among ranchers when they lost track of cattle they owned, so the Spanish government ordered ranchers to brand their cattle for identification.  Tejano ranchers staged the first cattle drives from South Texas to Spanish military outposts.

Cattle Ranching in Spanish Texas  In the 1800s, U.S. settlers moved into Texas and built ranches.  Americans adopted Spanish ranching techniques from vaqueros (Spanish cowboys). For example, they used horses to herd cattle, they used lassos (lazo) and Spanish roping techniques. They wore chaps (chaparreras) and developed saddle horns.

 By the 1840s the Texas cattle industry was slowly expanding as cattle drives began to out-of-state markets.  Ranchers faced challenges like cattle rustlers, or thieves. Another obstacle was access to markets. The demand for cattle in Texas was limited because of its small population. Herding cattle out of Texas was difficult and dangerous.

Ranching During the Civil War  When the Civil War broke out, the demand for Texas beef increased rapidly. The Confederate army needed to feed the troops.  As the war continued, it was difficult to move the cattle because of the Union army blockades.  By the end of the war, about 5 million cattle roamed the state, many of them unclaimed.

Texas Longhorns A. In the mid-1800s, Spanish cattle mixed with English cattle and a new breed, called the Longhorn, developed in Texas. B. The longhorns became more valuable as cattle ranching grew in the late 1850s. During the Civil War, the number of cattle grew rapidly and about 5 million cattle roamed in Texas. Many were mavericks, or unclaimed cattle, and Texans were looking for new markets to sell their cattle.

Horns: long, pointed horns provided protection against predators. Legs: long legs provided ability to travel great distances Disease: resistant to Texas fever Land & Climate: thrived on native grasses and little water; could endure hot and cold weather Origin: Spanish breeds mixed with English cattle that U.S. settlers brought

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Open Range Ranching

Section 2: Texas Cattle Trails Demand for Beef  The Civil War had greatly reduced the cattle supply in the Northeast.  In Texas, the cattle supply was greater than the demand.  As a result, cattle sold for $3-6 a head in Texas compared to $38 in Kansas or $80 in New York. Effect on Texas Ranchers  Ranchers raised more cattle to meet the high demand.  Ranchers could not drive cattle all the way to the east because of the distance and many populated farm areas.  By 1865, stockyards, beef processing plants, and railroads were opening further west. Ranchers could now drive their herds to the nearest railroad line.

 During the fall and winter, cattle grazed on the open range.  In the spring, the cowboys had a roundup to catch and brand mavericks.  When the grass turned green, cowboys drove the cattle north. Cattle Drives

Sedalia Trail (Shawnee)  The first major trail from Texas.  Due to problems, this trail only lasted 1 year.  Most of the land near Sedalia, Missouri was farmland and the huge herds trampled the crops.  Longhorns carried ticks that spread Texas Fever to cattle in other states.  Quarantine laws were passed to keep Texas cattle out of Kansas and Missouri.

Chisholm Trail  The second major trail was the most popular trail and was used for 10 years.  Railroads were moving further west and Joseph McCoy arranged for the building of a cattle market with holding pens and loading chutes in Abilene, Kansas. (Laws were passed allowing cattle drives west of farm areas.)  Trail named after Jesse Chisholm, a fur trader who blazed the original trail.

Western Trail  Begin in 1874 and ran from Kerrville to Dodge City, Kansas.  Became the primary route for Texas cattle being moved north.

Goodnight-Loving Trail  This trail went through West Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado.  Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving combined herds to sell to the military at Fort Sumner in New Mexico.  Ranchers stopped using the trail when railroads arrived in Texas and eliminated the need for long cattle drives to rail lines.

Life on the Trail  A typical cattle drive had 8 to 12 cowboys to care for 2,000 – 3,000 cattle.  On a good day, the herd would move 15 to 18 miles.  A day on the trail began before sunrise and often stopped for the night at 5:00 p.m. or later.  Trail drives were often difficult and dangerous. Cowboys encountered shortage of water, prairie fires, bad weather, Native Americans, and rustlers tried to steal the livestock.

Job TitleJob Description Drover Cattle drive operator- herded other people’s cattle to market Trail boss Drive leader Cowboy Represented the ranchers, supervised herds on each cattle drive Wrangler Professional horse handler, cared for the crew’s horses Camp cook Traveled ahead of the herd and had meals prepared for when they arrived. Point men Highly experienced cowboys, guided the herd Drag men Traveled behind the herd, the worst position because they “ate” dust the whole trip

Many Uses of a Bandana

RegionWhy a Good Location?Ranches and Ranchers South Texas Climate well suited to cattle ranching  King Ranch established by Richard King and Gideon Lewis. Later ran by Henrietta King and Robert Kleberg. Located in Nueces County.  Manuel Guerra operated a ranch in Starr County. Panhandle Grass-covered plains provided food Ogallala Aquifer and windmills provided water flat and open land made it easy to watch cattle  Charles Goodnight and John Adair established JA Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon.  Thomas Sherman Bugbee built the Quarter T Circle Ranch in Hutchinson County.  Matador Ranch  XIT Ranch Section III: Texas Ranches and Ranchers

Cowboy Culture  Myths  Cowboys were fearless, happy, and worry free.  Western novels glorified cowboy life.  Wild West shows were popular.  Realities  Cowboys faced blizzards, floods, and stampedes.  Some cowboys rode 24 hours at a time.  Most cowboys earned about $300 per year.

 Notes  The development of the cattle industry from the Spanish origins to and the realities of the cowboy life. You NeedToday

Section IV: The Closing of the Open Range invention of barbed wire (1873) and fencing of the open range expansion of sheep ranching introduction of windmills and expansion of farming onto the plains extension of railroad lines into Texas, refrigerated railroad cars overgrazing of land stronger laws in northern states against Texas Fever Greater supply of beef caused prices to drop Cut cattle off from water sources Invented by Joseph Glidden and Henry Sanborn (salesman) brought it to TX. Cheap Easy to set up Destroyed grazing areas by eating grass all the way to the root

What innovations came into use in the 1870s? Cause & Effect Barbed wire Led to the closing of the open range and to range wars. Windmills Increased ranching and farming in dry West Texas, and also eventually led to the closing of the open range.

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