US cattle production statistics are reported annually by the Economic Research Service of the US Department of agricutlure. Go to: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ and simply click "Livestock and Animals" on the left navigation bar.
The King Ranch. Its actually Deseret Ranch in Florida
TO LIVE! the rainforests are a main supply of oxygen for us! We use the Amazon for logging hydro electric power cattle ranching mining.
land use changes and other economic activities have eliminated the open range.
because of the railroads and the fresh grass in the Plains they moved all over US. Barbed wire and long winters were negatives.
The main breeds are Angus (being the most popular), Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Simmental.
The Deseret Ranches in Florida is the largest cow-calf ranching operation in the United States. It covers an area of 50 by 30 miles (300,000 acres of land).
To the east of the Western Interior Mountains and Basins in the US lies the Great Plains region. This area is characterized by flat grasslands and is known for its agricultural production and cattle ranching. It stretches all the way to the Mississippi River.
There are many, like the claims of overgrazing, deforestation, production of methane, and even false claims of animal abuse and neglect etc., which are mere claims in themselves and not actual fact (for the most part, of course depending on where you stand and where you live), but the actual real disadvantage of cattle ranching is that it is 90% hard work and 10% satisfaction. It is not a high-profit venture, unlike most would like to believe, nor is it nearly as romantic as many books and movies make it out to be. Cattle ranching involves far more responsibilities and levels of skill than a simply job at the office or in the construction business entails.Basically, if you want to run cattle and make a lot of money and don't want to work hard, don't run cattle at all. Cattle ranching is a way of life and a business, and something that shouldn't be delved in head-first if you've no idea what you're doing or what you what you're getting into.
In the United States, most beef cattle are raised in the Midwest, particularly in states like Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado, where vast open lands and suitable climates support large-scale cattle ranching. In Canada, the primary beef cattle production regions are Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, known for their expansive grasslands and agricultural infrastructure. These areas are well-suited for cattle grazing and feed production, contributing significantly to the beef industry in both countries.
The image of the cowboy herding cattle on the open range is not an accurate description of commercial cattle ranching in the United States today because land use changes and other economic activities have eliminated the open range. From the 1860s to the 1880s, cattle were driven to railroads to be taken to slaughterhouses. However, other economic activities, farming especially, began to employ grazing lands for other uses. With the invention of barbed wire, private lands could be fenced in cheaply and easily, thus limiting where the cowboys could graze the cattle. Previously, fences had to be made of wood, which was very expensive because it was scarce on the treeless prairies. Nowadays, cattle are raised on private ranches or leased public or private grazing lands, and frequently fattened in commercial feedlots before slaughter. Meatpacking houses are generally located within the cattle raising areas so the cattle do not have to be taken far.
Five notable cattle drive trails in the U.S. include the Chisholm Trail, which connected Texas to Kansas railheads; the Goodnight-Loving Trail, known for its route through New Mexico and Colorado; the Shawnee Trail, one of the earliest routes from Texas to Missouri; the Western Trail, which extended to Wyoming; and the Dodge City Trail, leading to the famous cattle town of Dodge City, Kansas. These trails were crucial for transporting cattle to markets in the late 19th century, shaping the cattle ranching industry in America.
Yes cattle were brought to America. Dairy cattle from Europe and it is believed that beef cattle were brought over with slaves from Africa.