As the buffalo disappeared and Native Americans were forced onto reservations, horses and cattle thrived. Cattle ranching became big business all the way from Texas to Kansas. Cattle Become Big Business
At the end of the Civil War, there was a shortage of beef in the North. Cattle were drove North from Texas to Kansas to be shipment. At the time the west was an “open range” Growing Demand for Beef
Chicago Union Stockyards Opened By 1866 the railroads were running through Sedalia, MO and into Chicago. Growing Demand for Beef
Cattle ranchers learned the business from the Mexican Vaqueros. Emerged when the railroads reached the great plains. Demand for beef increased after the Civil War. Vaqueros/Cowboys
Daily Duties 14 hour days Livestock management Transportation of cattle to markets Breeding, branding, & safety of all cattle & horses on the ranch Maintenance of fencing & stabling Life of a Cowboy
Each spring all the longhorn cattle that could be found on the open range were herded into a large corral. They penned them for several days & the cattle became so hungry they would rather eat than run away. The herd was sorted through, branded, and prepared for a long drive. Roundup
Often took months. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of head of cattle A cook- chuck wagon Wrangler- cared for the horses Trail Boss- supervised & negotiated with settlers and Native Americans Cattle Drives
Dawn to dusk Sleep on the ground Bathe in the rivers Risks: River crossings Severe weather Lightning/thunder Stampede Raiders Native Americans “Long Drive”
A more convenient route than Sedalia A shipping yard where the cattle drive trail will meet with the railroad. San Antonio, TX to Abilene, Kansas Chisholm Trail
Between 1883 and dry summers/ harsh winters Whole herds were wiped out Land was overgrazed Farmers were planting crops and did not want cattle crossing over their land Barbed-wire invented The End of the Open Range