1. The Cattle Industry

2. Factors that led to the rise of the Cattle Industry
New breed of cattle that was immune to Texas Fever tick
Texas Longhorn (hardy) – mix of English and Spanish cattle

3. Increased land availability
Price of beef rose
Railheads – towns that were stops on the cattle drive, grew

4. Cattle ranching spread into New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana as more Indian land was given up
Government allowed cattle ranchers to use public land as open range (free grazing land)
Large companies owned ranches

5. Factors that led to the fall of the Cattle Industry
Ranchers were eager to make large profits, so filled the open range with too many cattle
Overgrazing damaged the grasslands

6. Large herds increased supply of beef – brought down prices and profits
Barbed wire – end of open range
Control access to land and water
Limited amount of water

7. Bad weather
Severe weather
Droughts

8. Bonanza farms – owned by large companies, run like factories
Efficient machinery and cheap land
In times of severe drought – profits fell
By 1890s, most bonanza farms fell apart
Ranchers had to buy own land
Sheep raising expanded (could survive on weeds and short grasses that cows couldn’t)