What were factors that led to the ending of the open range?

Answer 1

The introduction of barbed wire about 1870, one form by Michael Kelly and improved by Joseph Glidden allowed fence construction where there was not an abundance of other Fencing materials is one major reason for the end of the "open range" as property owners had the ability to "fence out" other livestock and not allow open access to their property including fodder and water.

Answer 2

The introduction and increased popularity of the barbed wire fence is what brought the open-range cattle ranching empire to its knees and pretty much destroyed it. Closed-range cattle ranching took over, along with new incentives to increase range productivity and decrease cattle mortality from overgrazing and losses during the winter including harvesting and storing hay for winter, introduction of stocking rates, and controlled grazing through the use of several pastures instead of letting cattle have access to one very large piece of land.

Answer 3

• Barbed wire fencing
• Railroad
• Building new stockyards closer to ranch lands

In the last half of the 19th century, ranching extended to the west and more ranchers established their ranches in what was formerly 'open range.'

After drought and hard winters caused hardships for both the drivers and the ranchers, combined with overgrazing, ranchers began using barbed wire to fence off their grazing lands and keep the cattle droves out. This was the beginning of the end of the cattle drive era.

Then, the railroad came and stockyards were built closer to the major ranches and grazing lands, eliminating the necessity for the large cattle drives that defined the era.

Answer 4

The Federal and state governments began to sell what had been public land.

Farming settlers began to move into and own land in the open range areas. The farmers wanted to keep free roaming cattle out of their crops.

Ranchers bought land as well.

Ranchers began to build up herds of specific breeds of cattle. They wanted to keep other breeds from mixing with their herds.

Ranchers made improvements to their ranges, watering holes, improved grasses, and improved grazing practices. They didn't see why other ranchers should benefit from their expensive improvements or have other's cattle over graze their land.

One thing allowed land owners to keep their herds on their land and other cattle out. The barbed wire fence, The 1st US patent for barbed wire was issued in 1863 nut it was Joseph Gliddings who invented an inexpensive and efficient Barbed Wire in 1874, just as farmers were moving into open range areas and ranchers began to practice better animal husbandry methods, and ending the open range era.

Answer 5

Drop in beef prices and the invension of barbed wire. NOVANET