The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 significantly altered the cattle drive landscape by providing a faster and more efficient means of transporting cattle to markets, particularly in the East. This reduced the need for long cattle drives, as ranchers could ship their livestock directly via rail. Additionally, the expansion of railroads led to the development of new towns and markets along the routes, diminishing the traditional cattle drive's economic viability. Ultimately, the railroad facilitated a shift in the cattle industry from seasonal drives to a more stable, year-round shipping model.
barbed wire
Cattle trails disappeared mostly because of the sudden onslaught of people moving to the West, and a sudden drop in the value of cattle because of all the people coming to herd them, which caused the growth of plotting land and farming in the West.Read more: What_happened_to_the_cattle_trails_due_to_the_railroads
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.
One reason for the end of the western cattle bonanza was--overgrazing of the plains. (NovaNet)
Chicago Great Western Railroad ended in 1941.
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The decline of the cattle drive was primarily caused by the expansion of the railroad system, which allowed for faster and more efficient transportation of cattle to markets. Additionally, changes in cattle breeding and ranching practices, along with the advent of barbed wire, reduced the need for long drives across open ranges. The rise of large-scale ranching and the establishment of feedlots further diminished the traditional cattle drive's relevance. Environmental factors, including droughts and overgrazing, also contributed to the end of this iconic practice.
barbed wire
The end points for cattle trails on the Union Pacific Railroad were primarily marked by the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, and Ogden, Utah. Omaha served as a key starting point for cattle drives heading to the rail line, while Ogden became a critical destination for shipping cattle to markets in the East and West. These cities facilitated the transport of cattle as part of the broader expansion of the cattle industry in the late 19th century.
at the end of the cattle drive, the cowboys rest and drink and fight
The end point of the first significant cattle drive, known as the Chisholm Trail drive in the late 1860s, was typically Abilene, Kansas. This town became a major cattle shipping hub, allowing ranchers to transport beef to markets in the East. The drive marked the beginning of a new era in cattle ranching and played a crucial role in the economic development of the American West.
Go to the saloon for a few drinks, then head on back home after all the cattle had been sold.
The first railroads built in Texas were used to transport cattle from the open range to the Chicago markets. With their completion the age of cattle drives and cowboys came to an end.
The completion of the railroad and the increased use of barbed wire to fence off farming/ranching properties.
Those were jobs that were available. There was lots of demand back east in restaurants for beef, the cattle were raised out west far from the few western railroads, so it was necessary to hire cowboys to drive the cattle all the way from the range to the railroad. Within about 10 years the railroads expanded and went directly to where the cattle were raised and the age of cowboys and long cattle drives came to an end. The cowboys lost their jobs.
Cattle drive came to an end because of the invention of the barbed wire and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad. Thousands of cattle also perished due to an outbreak of Texas Fever and the Great Winter of 1887-88, which also contributed to the end of the famous cattle drives of the Old West.
Cattle drives soon ended in the late 1800's to the early 1900's because of fierce winter storms, barbed wire, drought, overgrazing, and the near extinction of the population of Longhorns originating from Spain and developed in the wilds of southwestern America.