Cattle Ranching

1. Cattle Ranching Cattle ranching really grew in the late 1800s. Once the buffalo were killed off and Native Americans had moved to reservations, ranchers began moving west.

2. SPANISH ORIGINS • When the Spanishexplorers and priests came from Mexico to what was Spanish Texas, they brought cattle with them. • Passed on their knowledgeof cattle raising to early settlers • Vaquerosare early Spanish Cowboys Vaqueros

3. Used horsesand Reatas (ropes) to round up herds of cattle raised cattleon the open range used English cattle-raising techniques worked with smaller herds that were fencedin worked on foot most of the time instead of horseback RANCHING Spanish Ranchers Anglo American Ranchers

4. Cattle Brands • Cattle were marked with their owners brandwhich is a mark burned into the cow’shide. • Cattle were raised on the open range so the brand was used to tell who’s cattle was whose.

5. Longhorns • Spaniards brought cattle with them when they settled. • Some cattle strayed from the missions or ranches. • Over time, a new breed evolved known as the Texas longhorn. • Distinctive characteristics: huge horns

6. The longhorn was able to adapt to almost any environment. • able to survive on little wateror food • able to survive extreme hot or cold temperatures • Able to use their hornsfor protection

7. Texas Herds During the Civil War • The Civil War had a negativeimpact on the cattle industry. • Ranching decreased during the war. • Cattle multipliedwhich so greatly increased their numbers that they weren’t worthas much.

8. After the Civil War • The demandfor beef increased in other parts of the U.S. after the Civil War. • Railroads to the north allowed beef to be shipped to markets outside of Texas. • Stockyardsand packinghouses sprang up near Chicago and St. Louis. • A longhorn that was worth $4 in Texascould bring close to $40 in the packinghouses. • Cattle owners searched for a way to safelytransporttheir cattle to the stockyards

9. Cattle drives Cattledrivesmade up an important part of the cattle industry. Cowhands led the herds hundreds of miles torailroadswhere they could be shipped east.

10. In 1867 Joseph G. McCoy, a Chicago business leader, built the first cow town in Abilene, Kansas near the railroad. Pens were put along railroad tracks in the wide streets. The cattle could be driven through town. Abilene also had entertainmentfor cowboys McCoy attracted buyersfor bidding on their cattle. Abilene, Kansas

11. The Development of Cattle Trails The Chisholm Trail was the first of the great cattle trails. Most famous. As many as 35,000 head of cattle reached Abilene, Kansas in 1867, and the number increased to350,000 by 1869.

12. CATTLE TRAILS, 1867–1890

13. As more railroads were built, more trails developed. The Western Trail (Dodge City Trail) became popular in the 1870s. The Goodnight-Loving Trail was started by Charles Goodnightand Oliver Loving

14. Life on the Trail • Cattle Drives began with a roundup • Cowboysbrandedunmarked cattle • could take weeks • Scouts rode in front of the herd to select the best route • Usually north • would depend on availability of waterand grass • alert the trail boss of dangers • The Trailbosshad complete authority over all the cowhands

15. Cowboys had specific duties: • Pointers– directed the cattle • Flankers – rode on the side to kept the cattle from straying • Drag Position – rode in the rearto keep the cows from straying behind • Wranglers took care of the extra horses called the remuda • Cowboys switched horses two to three times a day

17. Chuck Wagon • The campcookrode ahead in a chuck wagon to have dinner ready for the trail riders when they arrived. • Chuck wagon – a wagon that carries cooking equipment and food for the cowhands

18. DANGERS • Driving cattle was hard and dangerouswork. • Some of the dangers included: • -Bad weather or predators could causethe herd to stampede • -Indians would occasionally attack • Lightningfrom thunderstorms due to lack of shelter • By end of 1800’s, biggest danger was rustling.

19. Famous Ranches • King Ranch • 614,000 acres (near Kingsville) • Established by Richard King • JA Ranch • 100,000 cattle and million acres • 1st& largest ranch in Panhandle • Established by Charles Goodnight • XITRanch • (stands for “ten in Texas” because it spreads out over 10 counties) • Over 3 million acres • Land was sold in exchange for a new capitalbuilding for the Texas Government in Austin.

20. Barbed Wire • Ranchers tried to keep track of their livestock, but it was difficult. • Cattle owners started open-rangemethods of ranching because wooden rails and rocks were not easy to find for fences. • In 1873 Joseph Glidden inventedbarbed wire. • Barbed wire worked great and was inexpensive.

21. Farmers liked it-protected crops • Many people against fenceson open range. • Blocked cattle from open surface water. • Fence cutting lawscreated in 1884. • Open range soon becamething of the past. • By 1880’s – cattle drives ended-land too populated.

22. Windmills • Introduction of windmillsencouraged ranchers to fence their land. • Much of West Texas had few rivers or streams. • Cattle owners had allowed livestock to roamopen range to look for water. • Windmills made it possible for owners to pump waterfrom underground sources.

23. Then and Now

24. The Cowboy • Movies portray them as gunslingers and outlaws • This is mostly fiction as most cowboys were men working for a living. • People in the East loved stories of gunfighters so writers invented the western genre.

25. Sam Bass (supposedly) Outlaws • There were some famous Texan outlaws however. • Sam Bass • Train and Bank robber killed near Round Rock, Texas • John Wesley Hardin • In the history of the West, John Wesley Hardin ranks as one of the worst killers of all. By the time he went to prison in 1878, he claimed to have killed 44 men. John Wesley Hardin

26. Rustlerswerecattle or horse thieves-biggest threat. Many brands were made with straight lines (like the XIT) so it was more difficult for rustlers to change or brand over them.

27. Terms and Names To Know • Longhorn- wild steer found on the Texas Range/plains • Cattle drive- cowboys herded and moved cattle along trails to beef markets in the north • Chisholm Trail- the oldest cattle drive trail • Charles Goodnight- founded the Goodnight-Loving trail; drove cattle to markets in Colorado

28. Joseph F. Glidden • Open range ranching • Barbed wire • Windmills