8.6 Cattle and Sheep Ranching

The beginnings of cattle and sheep ranching in the West date back to the early 1850s.
Early ranching involved buying cattle cheaply in Texas and driving them north to fatten on richer prairie grasses.
- The trip could take up to 100 days, beginning in early April.
In the late 1800s, large trail drives slowed, and ranching changed as the open range ended.
Early ranches in the mid-1800s were basic, often sod houses or dugouts.
Lumber-built houses were possible only if the rancher had money to import lumber from the Upper Midwest or Pacific Northwest.
Some large-scale ranches on the plains were financed by wealthy investors in England and Scotland but were unusual.
Early herds were mainly Texas longhorns, well-adapted to the climate and grasses of the plains and disease-resistant.

Ranchers invested in improving herd bloodlines.
- A prized purebred bull could cost several thousand dollars.
- Worth the investment if offspring produced better beef, fetching a higher market price.
The amount of land required for each cow was significant.
- In some cases, several square miles were needed per animal per year.
Western ranches were very large.
Ranchers often purchased land along rivers or around natural waterholes to control surrounding grazing land.

Ranchers often didn't own much of the grazing land but controlled access through water sources.
During roundups, cowboys rode miles to find cattle, identified by their brands, and herded them back to the ranch.
Ranches often worked together to cover more territory and gather more animals.
The open range peaked in the early 1880s.
- In 1884, an estimated 4,500,000 cattle roamed free on the Great Plains.

Overstocking became a problem, leading to overgrazing and the death of grasslands.
- Wild grasses couldn't regrow due to continuous grazing.
Competition for premium land intensified.
Conflicts arose between cattlemen and sheep herders.
Farmers homesteaded more land, planting crops and fencing off areas, which disrupted cattle movement.
Barbed wire fences appeared, upsetting cattlemen.
- Cowboys sometimes cut fences to allow cattle to travel freely.

Cattlemen, farmers, and sheep herders competed for the same lands, leading to deadly range wars.
Cattle, cowboys, and sheep were targeted.
The open range ended quickly after severe winters in 1885-1886 and 1886-1887.
- Deadly blizzards caused thousands of cows to freeze or starve.

Many ranchers were wiped out in the spring of 1887, leading to a change in ranching practices.
Ranchers shifted from controlling vast open rangeland to controlling only owned land.
The new western rancher became a cattle tender, fencing in herds and providing food.
Hay and fodder had to be stored for winter feeding.
Cowboys maintained fences and fed cows.
Much of the adventure and risk of ranching was gone.
Demands for hay, corn, and grain increased, benefiting farmers in the Eastern plains.

Sheep herding was lucrative in the late 1800s.
Original sheep stock came from the Spanish in the Southwest.
Sheep ranches were usually farther west, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Sheep required less work; one shepherd and a dog could manage thousands of sheep.
Shepherds moved with the flock in search of grass and water, carrying supplies in a wagon.
Sheep ranchers could make 40% to 70% profit on their investment.
- Ewes cost $3$ each, and rams cost $25$ each.
Yearly herd increase was about 75% if the weather cooperated during lambing.
Marino was a common breed.

Shearing was the most exciting time for sheep ranchers, done in late spring.
More men were involved during shearing than regular herding.
Sheep were herded to the ranch, or shearing sheds were erected near railroads for wool transport.
A bench shearer could shear about 90 sheep a day using hand-powered or machine-powered clippers.
Shearers were paid about $5¢$ per sheep.
Each fleece was checked and packed into long, narrow bags, weighing about five pounds and selling for a little over a dollar.

After shearing, sheep were branded with ink brands on the hair.
Brands needed reapplying if unreadable.
The belief that cattle ranchers and sheep herders didn't get along doesn't hold up historically.
Range wars occurred over land claims.
Accusations that sheep ruined the grass were unfounded.
The smell of sheep supposedly deterred cattle from waterholes, but this wasn't always the case.
Many cattle ranchers switched to raising sheep due to high profits.
Popular culture stereotypes were often wrong.

The end of the open range changed life on the Great Plains.
The wilderness decreased as more farmers fenced in their land.
Private land ownership reduced grazing areas.
Ranchers settled down, resembling farmers more than cattle barons.
Western ranches were large and unfenced, so branding was crucial for identifying ownership.
Each spring, cows were rounded up, separated by brand, and driven back to their respective ranches.

Each ranch had a unique brand using letters, numbers, or symbols on a metal branding iron.
The hot iron was used to burn the brand into the hide on the animal's rump.
Unethical ranchers sometimes created similar brands to alter neighboring ranches' brands.
Double branding could only be detected by checking the underside of the hide after slaughter.
Cattle wrestling activities caused tension and involvement with the local sheriff.