true
Herd cattle
Cowhands, cowboys, etc.
Ranchers hired cowboys to gather and drive the cattle east. The expansion of the railroads shortened the cattle drive, enabling the cowboys to simply drive the cattle to the nearest rail stockyard.
Near the chuck wagon by a campfire.
On cattle drives the cowboys usually did not have a wagon but rode their horses.
Cowboys traditionally moved cattle to railheads, where the animals could be loaded onto trains for transport to markets in the East. They often drove the cattle along cattle trails, such as the Chisholm Trail, which connected grazing lands in Texas to railroads in Kansas. This movement was essential during the late 19th century, as it facilitated the booming cattle industry in America.
While exact numbers are difficult to determine, it's estimated that around 25% of cowboys during the cattle drive era were Black. Many formerly enslaved individuals and free Black men took on roles as cowboys, contributing significantly to the cattle industry and shaping the culture of the American West. Their stories often remain underrepresented in popular narratives about the cowboy era.
Cowboys used a lariat or riatta (the riatta is longer than a lariat) to catch cattle with. They also built pens out of trees or rope, or used natural barriers like box canyons to herd cattle into to sort them and work them to brand and castrate them. Today's cowboys still use the lariat or riatta to catch and treat cattle with, and use steel panels, board fences and the like to herd them into to work them such as during branding time.
Cowboys filled the plains with cattle from the late 19th century, particularly during the era of the cattle drives that followed the Civil War. They drove herds from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other states, making it possible to transport beef to growing urban markets. This practice greatly contributed to the expansion of the cattle industry and the development of the American West. The iconic image of the cowboy emerged during this time, symbolizing a rugged and adventurous spirit.
Because the storm would scare the cattle away
Texas cowboys needed an easy way to get cattle to Kansas primarily due to the booming demand for beef in the eastern United States during the late 19th century. The cattle drives, facilitated by established trails like the Chisholm Trail, allowed cowboys to transport large herds efficiently to railheads in Kansas, where they could be shipped to markets in the East. This not only helped meet the growing demand for meat but also provided economic opportunities for ranchers and cowboys alike.
Because they had to find new ways to raise and graze the cattle that they care for due to the increasing popularity of barbed wire that is used by farmers trying to protect their livelihood from free-ranging cattle.