Ranching and Ranching and FarmingFarming

The Spanish Introduce CattleThe Spanish Introduce Cattle►The cattle first brought to America arrived The cattle first brought to America arrived

on the ships of Spanish explorers in the on the ships of Spanish explorers in the 1500s.1500s.

►Raising cattle began on the open range, Raising cattle began on the open range, public land that could be used by anyone.public land that could be used by anyone.

►Vaqueros, or cowhands, herded and drove Vaqueros, or cowhands, herded and drove cattle into pens they called cattle into pens they called corralescorrales..

►Cattle were branded with hot iron to show Cattle were branded with hot iron to show ownership.ownership.

►Anglo American brands were often were Anglo American brands were often were developed from the initials of the rancher developed from the initials of the rancher or the name of the ranch.or the name of the ranch.

Early Ranchers Use the Open Early Ranchers Use the Open RangeRange

►Ranchers who moved into Texas before Ranchers who moved into Texas before the Civil War already were accustomed to the Civil War already were accustomed to many practices of the open range.many practices of the open range.

►However, they had not relied on horses, However, they had not relied on horses, developed roping skills, worn chaps, or developed roping skills, worn chaps, or used saddles equipped with horns. used saddles equipped with horns.

►They quickly adopted these ways and They quickly adopted these ways and often used Spanish terms for equipment often used Spanish terms for equipment and practices. (Lasso, vaquero)and practices. (Lasso, vaquero)

Trail Driving Opens the Cattle Trail Driving Opens the Cattle MarketMarket►The expansion of the railroads after the The expansion of the railroads after the

Civil War played a major role in Texas’s Civil War played a major role in Texas’s cattle industry.cattle industry.

►Texas ranchers needed to get their cattle Texas ranchers needed to get their cattle to Chicago and St. Louis stockyards. to Chicago and St. Louis stockyards.

►When the railroads expanded westward, When the railroads expanded westward, ranchers saw their opportunity to drive the ranchers saw their opportunity to drive the cattle in large herds to the railroad towns, cattle in large herds to the railroad towns, which connected to the stockyards by rail. which connected to the stockyards by rail.

►Trail drivingTrail driving was very economical. was very economical.►The longhorns were driven north in the The longhorns were driven north in the

spring, when grass was plentiful, so the spring, when grass was plentiful, so the animals could feed off the natural animals could feed off the natural vegetation. vegetation.

Drovers Follow Major Cattle Drovers Follow Major Cattle TrailsTrails►In 1866, about 260,000 head of In 1866, about 260,000 head of

cattle were rounded up in Texas and cattle were rounded up in Texas and driven north, many to Sedalia, driven north, many to Sedalia, Missouri, where the railroad ended. Missouri, where the railroad ended. (Sedalia/Shawnee Trail)(Sedalia/Shawnee Trail)

►Missouri farmers complained herds Missouri farmers complained herds destroyed their crops.destroyed their crops.

►Farmers were afraid Texas cattle had Farmers were afraid Texas cattle had a disease known as Texas Fever a disease known as Texas Fever carried by ticks.carried by ticks.

Drovers Follow Major Cattle Drovers Follow Major Cattle TrailsTrails► Joseph McCoy Joseph McCoy

persuaded the persuaded the railroads moving railroads moving westward to build westward to build towns with everything towns with everything necessary to house necessary to house drovers and their drovers and their cattle.cattle.

►He then persuaded He then persuaded Texas drovers to turn Texas drovers to turn their cattle drives their cattle drives farther west to avoid farther west to avoid Missouri. (Chisholm Missouri. (Chisholm Trail)Trail)

Life Along the Trail Drives Life Along the Trail Drives ►Cattle drives began at sunup.Cattle drives began at sunup.►Two cowhands rode in front of the herd to Two cowhands rode in front of the herd to

lead the cattle, while two or three had the lead the cattle, while two or three had the dusty drag position behind the herd.dusty drag position behind the herd.

►The distance traveled each day was The distance traveled each day was about 12 miles. about 12 miles.

►Sizes of herds varied; they ranged from a Sizes of herds varied; they ranged from a few hundred to 3,000.few hundred to 3,000.

►Larger herds had 8-12 cowhands, a trail Larger herds had 8-12 cowhands, a trail boss, a cook and a wrangler. boss, a cook and a wrangler.

Life Along the Trail DrivesLife Along the Trail Drives►Trail driving ended shortly after Trail driving ended shortly after

1885 when the 1885 when the supplysupply of cattle of cattle became greater than the became greater than the demand demand for them.for them.

►By the late 1800s, By the late 1800s, railroadsrailroads were were built in Texas, eliminating the need built in Texas, eliminating the need for long cattle drives.for long cattle drives.

The Sheep Industry BoomsThe Sheep Industry Booms►After the Civil War, a growing demand for After the Civil War, a growing demand for

wool brought even more sheep ranchers to wool brought even more sheep ranchers to Texas.Texas.

►Ranchers who raised sheep faced the Ranchers who raised sheep faced the hostility of cattle ranchers and farmers.hostility of cattle ranchers and farmers.

►Cattle ranchers complained that sheep Cattle ranchers complained that sheep cropped the grass too short, ruining the cropped the grass too short, ruining the range.range.

►Farmers claimed their crops were trampledFarmers claimed their crops were trampled►Ranchers and farmers began to fence in Ranchers and farmers began to fence in

their lands to protect them. their lands to protect them.

Barbed Wire Ends the Open Barbed Wire Ends the Open RangeRange► By 1873 several inventors had perfected By 1873 several inventors had perfected

different kinds of different kinds of barbed wirebarbed wire fence - small fence - small barbs that were twisted on the wire fencing barbs that were twisted on the wire fencing pricked but did not harm the animals who came pricked but did not harm the animals who came into contact with it. into contact with it.

► Barbed wire was a threat to law and order for a Barbed wire was a threat to law and order for a time because cattle and sheep raisers began time because cattle and sheep raisers began fencing their land, sometimes enclosing the fencing their land, sometimes enclosing the land of others. land of others.

► Some ranchers cut off the water supply to other Some ranchers cut off the water supply to other ranchers’ herds.ranchers’ herds.

► Fence cutting warsFence cutting wars between between

farmers and ranchers soon followed.farmers and ranchers soon followed.

The Ranching Industry DeclinesThe Ranching Industry Declines►The ranching industry declined rapidly The ranching industry declined rapidly

in the late 1880s.in the late 1880s.►Too large profits earned for several Too large profits earned for several

years had led ranchers to expand and years had led ranchers to expand and produce produce too many cattletoo many cattle..

►Too many cattle meant that rangelands Too many cattle meant that rangelands were ruined due to overgrazing and were ruined due to overgrazing and also caused prices to fall.also caused prices to fall.

►A number of severe blizzards and long A number of severe blizzards and long droughts caused many ranchers to sell droughts caused many ranchers to sell their herds.their herds.

Farming on the RiseFarming on the Rise►Farmers who moved to the dryer parts of Farmers who moved to the dryer parts of

West Texas discovered that with the use of West Texas discovered that with the use of new techniques, they could produce new techniques, they could produce profitable crops.profitable crops.

►Windmills pumped water from underground Windmills pumped water from underground sources up to the surface for livestock and sources up to the surface for livestock and household use. household use.

►Dry farmingDry farming used a manner of plowing that used a manner of plowing that left loose soil on top of the ground. The left loose soil on top of the ground. The layers of loose soil kept water in the ground layers of loose soil kept water in the ground by slowing down the rate of evaporation. by slowing down the rate of evaporation.

►The most important crop grown in Texas The most important crop grown in Texas was cotton.was cotton.