Cattle Industry

Spanish Origins Came from Mexico with the explorers Land grants started around Rio Grande Flourished in late 1800s Brands! End of buffalo and Natives being sent to reservations opened a lot of doors

Why Cattle? 4,400 acres if you raised cattle (1821) Can be used for MANY things! Meat Hides for leather goods Fat for soap, and candles Etc.!!!

Cattle vs. Civil War Industry Cattle Declined during war Union controlled Mississippi River Men were off fighting Men had little money and cattle were worth close to nothing post war Number of cattle increased during war Lack of industry Open range

Market Changes Railroads are the key to success! Expansion allowed market to expand North and Eastward Stockyards and Packinghouses sprang up Money, money, money Transportation is crucial Cattle might be $4 in TX and $40 in packinghouse in Chicago

Cow Towns Abilene, KS Sprang up in KS, TX, OK, LA, AK Had holding pens, railroad connections, wide streets, entertainment for cowhands, etc.

Cattle Trails Chisholm Trail 1st of many! 35,000 head of cattle reached destination in 1867 Started in Victoria, went north to KS Western/Dodge City Trail Popular in the 1870s Started in San Antonio, went north through Dodge City and into NE Pecos/Goodnight Loving Trail Covered western part of TX Extended north into NM, CO, and later WY Over 6 million head of cattle would travel northward between 1867 and 1890.

Cattle Trail Sequence Roundup Unmarked cattle has to be branded Can take weeks, often used hundreds of cowhands Separated into herds Scouts go ahead Had to find best route and report to trail boss Needed water, ample grass, good weather, no hostilities Cattle is driven north and sold

Trail Jobs Trail Boss Manages the drive, herds, and all cowhands Makes all necessary and important decisions Cowhand--helped with roundup and branding Pointers—rode near the lead cattle to keep herd on route Flankers—rode beside herd to prevent straying Draggers—rode at the back of the herd to prevent lagging Wranglers—took care of extra horses on drive

Expanding the Cattle Industry Drives started out as once a year Cattle owners realized the earliest cattle made the most money Many started going north in the fall and waiting out the winter Resulted in spread of the cattle industry to the north and west (WY, MT) Most cattle were born in TX and shipped north as calves Early spring and summer began as optimal times