The open range was a system of unconfined land in the American West where cattle grazed freely without the constraints of fences, allowing ranchers to expand their herds and access vast grazing areas. The end of the open range was primarily brought about by the introduction of barbed wire in the 1870s, which enabled ranchers to enclose their land, coupled with the overgrazing of pastures and the harsh winter of 1886-1887 that decimated cattle populations. These factors, along with increased agricultural development and land claims, transformed the landscape and led to the decline of the open range era.
The cattle boom is stupid. Who cares when it ended, it ended because people were stupid! So it doesn't matter when it ended. There were to many cattle and the open-range declined due to barbed wire. It lasted from 1849 to 1862.
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 barbed wire
Open range.
cattle ranching
Cattle ranching
No fences, and all cattle must be branded so come round-up time, the cowboys know which cattle belong to which rancher.
The open range system of cattle ranching allowed herds to intermingle without serious problems. As system of branding made separating the cattle by owner allowed this activity.
It's said to be richer meat.
Longhorns and Herefords.
Cattle are left on the open range in order to feed on wild grasses and other plants. The wild grasses and plants are a free source of food, leading to a cheaper way to raise cattle.
land use changes and other economic activities have eliminated the open range.
Ranches are privately owned while the open range is often federally or state owned land (in other words, public land).
owners branded cattle that roamed freely, and then cowboys rounded them up
owners branded cattle that roamed freely, and then cowboys rounded them up
Introduction of barbed wire.