Chapter 18 “The Cattle Kingdom”

*The cattle first brought to America arrived on the ships of Spanish explorers in the 1500’s. *These Spanish cattle were bred with other types, giving rise to the famous Texas Longhorn.

Longhorn Calf

Raising cattle began on the open range, public land that could be used by anyone. Vaqueros, or cowhands, herded and drove cattle into pens they called corrales.

Cattle were branded with a hot iron to show ownership. An unbranded cow could be claimed by anyone.

Cattle branding is nothing new. Ancient Egyptians did it – We do too!

Collage of Brands

In the late 1800’s, huge ranches sprawled throughout Texas. Let’s take a look at a few of these.

The King Ranch By 1925, the King Ranch was larger than some states. It had expanded to more than one million acres and 100,000 head of livestock. It was established in 1853 by Richard King. The King Ranch By 1925, the King Ranch was larger than some states. It had expanded to more than one million acres and 100,000 head of livestock. It was established in 1853 by Richard King.

The King Ranch did, and still does, take up much of South Texas.

It was on the King Ranch that a famous breed of cattle, the Santa Gertrudis, was developed. It was the first breed ever developed in the United States.

The JA Ranch In 1876, Charles Goodnight and John Adair established the JA Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon. Like the King Ranch, it also expanded to 1 million acres and more than 100,000 cattle. The JA Ranch In 1876, Charles Goodnight and John Adair established the JA Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon. Like the King Ranch, it also expanded to 1 million acres and more than 100,000 cattle.

Charles Goodnight’s wife, Molly, rescued and raised baby buffalo left to die by commercial hunters.

The remaining buffalo had to be sold in as they kept walking through the fences.

The Shoe Bar Ranch This ranch was also located in the Panhandle, and was 450,000 acres in size. By 1913, this ranch had been broken up and sold. The owner was Thomas Bugbee. The Shoe Bar Ranch This ranch was also located in the Panhandle, and was 450,000 acres in size. By 1913, this ranch had been broken up and sold. The owner was Thomas Bugbee.

1912 – The Shoe Bar Ranch

The Matador Ranch The Matador Ranch was established in 1878 by Henry Campbell. It was, and still is, located near Lubbock in the Panhandle. The Matador Ranch The Matador Ranch was established in 1878 by Henry Campbell. It was, and still is, located near Lubbock in the Panhandle.

The Matador

The XIT The XIT Ranch was the largest Texas ranch of the period. consisting of 3 million acres. The ranch took up 10 counties, hence the X in the name.

The XIT was land given to a Chicago-based company by the state of Texas in million acres of land was exchanged for the agreement to build the $3 million dollar capitol building in Austin.

It was also located in the Panhandle. It ran for 200 miles along the border of New Mexico. The last of the ranch was sold in 1963.

The XIT

Many large ranches, like the King Ranch, still exist in Texas today. But ranching is different from when Richard King founded the ranch back in 1853.

Now, two thousand miles of fences keep the 60,000 cattle inside the ranch. Now, two thousand miles of fences keep the 60,000 cattle inside the ranch.

In addition to horses, the ranchers use helicopters to travel around.

The cattle are branded and electronic devices are attached to the ears of calves. This helps keep track of their feeding schedules and health records.

Texas Cattle Trails In the Spring, cowhands would drive the cattle in large herds to the railroad towns to the north, which were connected to stockyards by rail. In the north and east, cattle would sell for $30 to $40 a head.

Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving

Days on a trail drive were long and hard. They often spent 18 hours in the saddle. The distance traveled each day was usually 10 to 12 miles. At night each cowhand took his turn at standing guard against stampedes or Indian raids.

The chuck wagon cook was called a “coosie,” from the Spanish word for male cook, “cocinero.” He was at times referred to as “cookie.”

The Chuck Wagon

The typical cowboy was young and single – and poor.

The cattle towns of Kansas were rowdy places where cowhands “let off steam” after being paid.

“Here at last!”

Days of the Texas cattle trails were short lived. Four events made trail driving unnecessary, unprofitable, and even almost impossible by the late 1800’s. These events were:

1. The supply of cattle became greater than the demand for them, so cattle prices fell. Cattle drives were no longer profitable.

2. Barbed wire fences had been invented by Joseph Gliddenand their more frequent use meant the cattle drovers’ paths were frequently blocked.

3. Cattle that were suspected of carrying a common disease (Texas Fever) carried by ticks were kept out of Kansas and Missouri by quarantine laws, making trail driving almost impossible.

4. Lastly, by the late 1800’s, railroads were built in Texas, eliminating the need for long cattle drives.