Drop in beef prices and the invention of barbed wire
Longhorns.
The cattle kingdom declined in the 1880s primarily due to overgrazing, severe droughts, and the introduction of barbed wire, which restricted cattle movement and grazing lands. Additionally, the expansion of the railroad system led to increased competition and lower beef prices. The combination of these factors, along with the rise of farming and the settlement of the Great Plains, undermined the profitability of large-scale cattle ranching. By the end of the decade, the once-thriving cattle industry had significantly diminished.
The cattle trails came to an end primarily due to the expansion of the railroads, which provided a more efficient means of transporting cattle to markets. Additionally, the overgrazing on the trails led to depleted grasslands, and the severe winters of the late 1880s significantly reduced cattle herds. Increased fencing due to the Homestead Act also limited the open range that cattle drives relied upon, ultimately transforming the cattle industry and leading to the decline of the traditional cattle trails.
The invention of barbed wire ended the open range
The disease was rhinderpest.
In the late 1880s, Kansas state was closed to Texas cattle for 4 months disrupting the flow of beef from the south to the north. There were also issues with Texas fever quarantines which kept the cattle from travelling because no one wanted their herds getting infected. Settlers also made it very difficult to drive cattle as they demanded money for cattle to cross their lands.
In Texas the abundance of cattle created a greater demand for beef from folks back east. This was after the Civil War to the late 1880s.
In Texas the abundance of cattle created a greater demand for beef from folks back east. This was after the Civil War to the late 1880s.
The end of open-range cattle ranching in the mid-1880s was primarily due to overgrazing, which depleted grasslands, and the harsh winter of 1886-1887, known as the "Great Die-Up," which killed a significant number of cattle. Additionally, the expansion of barbed wire fencing allowed farmers to enclose their lands, restricting cattle movement and competition for resources. The economic shift towards more controlled and sustainable ranching practices also played a role in this transition.
The end of open-range cattle ranching in the mid-1880s was primarily due to several interrelated factors. The severe winter of 1886-1887, known as the "Great Die-Up," led to massive cattle losses due to extreme cold and lack of forage. Additionally, the expansion of barbed wire fencing allowed for more controlled cattle management and the privatization of land, making open grazing increasingly difficult. Lastly, changes in market demands and overstocking had already strained the cattle industry, contributing to the decline of the open-range system.
because there used to be mummys there in 1880s and that were they used to live