Many cattle drives ended in Kansas due to its strategic location along the railroads, particularly the Kansas Pacific Railway, which facilitated the transportation of cattle to markets in the East. Additionally, Kansas offered open grazing lands and was part of the cattle trails like the Chisholm Trail, making it an ideal destination for herders. The demand for beef during the post-Civil War era further incentivized drives to this region, as it became a key hub for cattle shipping.
Cattle drives came to an end by the late 1800s primarily due to the expansion of railroads, which allowed for faster and more efficient transportation of cattle to markets without the need for long drives. Additionally, overgrazing and harsh winters depleted grasslands, making it difficult to sustain large herds. The rise of barbed wire fencing also restricted open range grazing, contributing to the decline of the cattle drive era. Finally, the increasing demand for beef was met by more localized farming and ranching operations.
They put up fences. Cattle used to roam freely on the Great Plains. Later, farmers put up barbed wire fences in order to share the land and divide it. The fences ended the cattle drives that were an essential part of the Cattle Kingdom.
Cattle drives haven't ended, they still happen around the world, a lot more frequently than you think, actually. But back in the late 1800's in the USA and Canada the implementation of barbed wire fences, increasing population of settlers taking over land that could be or would otherwise be used to graze and raise cattle on, the railroad, the invention of the car (which turned into manufacturing large trucks to transport livestock in) and the Great Winter of 1885-86 where thousands of cattle died of starvation all came together to bring the great, one-hundred-mile-plus cattle drives from the home range to the stockyards to an end. It was no longer needed, wasn't feasible, and easier and easier methods were created to transport, rather than herd, cattle from one place to another.
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.
One reason for the end of the western cattle bonanza was--overgrazing of the plains. (NovaNet)
I must assume you are asking about cattle drives since you don't ask it in your question. Kansas was the nearest rail line for the cattle drives. Kansas City had the largest stockyards for the trains going east.
I must assume you are asking about cattle drives since you don't ask it in your question. Kansas was the nearest rail line for the cattle drives. Kansas City had the largest stockyards for the trains going east.
Cattle drives in Kansas came to an end primarily due to the expansion of the railroad system, which allowed for quicker and more efficient transportation of cattle to market without the need for long drives. Additionally, the introduction of barbed wire and the rise of settled farming in the region restricted open grazing lands, making traditional cattle drives more difficult. Economic factors, such as fluctuating cattle prices and the increasing cost of long drives, also contributed to the decline of this practice. As a result, ranchers began to adapt to new methods of cattle transportation that were more viable in the changing landscape.
Help me
barb wire
The increase in population along cattle trails led to the development of settlements and ranches, causing conflicts between the cattle drives and local communities. As a result, laws were passed to regulate the movement of cattle and prevent further conflicts, ultimately leading to the decline of cattle drives.
The expansion of railways was the direct cause of this.
The quick easy answer is..The open plains were cut up by "Barbed Wire" Barbed wire put an end to the great Cattle drives of the old West and to a certain extent The Cowboy.
The growth of towns and farms took up most of the grazing land along the routes of the drives, and the expansion of the railroads meant cattle could be shipped directly to the slaughterhouse.
At the end of the cattle trails, cattle were primarily shipped to railheads in cities like Abilene, Kansas, and Dodge City, Kansas. From these railheads, they were transported by train to major markets in the eastern United States, where there was a high demand for beef. This process was a critical part of the cattle drive era in the late 19th century, facilitating the distribution of cattle to populated areas.
Cattle drives still exist as they did in the late 1800s, but not over the same extensive distances. The growth of towns and farms and extensive use of barbed wire blocked many of the traditional routes, and much of the open grazing land became private property. The advent of the railroads meant that it became cheaper in many cases to ship cattle by rail, so the drives were from the ranches to the local stockyards, where the cattle cars would be loaded.
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.