Cattle Flashcards
How many longhorn cattle roaming free on the grasslands of Texas?
5 million
How much could cattle be sold for in the West?
$3 to $4
How much could cattle be sold for in the East?
$30 - $40
What 2 things occurred in 1866 to help industry?
- The development of Abilene railhead
- Liberalisation of Kansas quarantine laws
When did Kansas re-instate quarantine laws?
1867
- Cattle could only enter for 3 months in winter
Cattle quarantine
Extended to other areas of state in 1876
Increase in cattle transported?
35,000 - 1867
700,000 - 1871
Numbers of cattle driven from Texas to cow towns?
1867 - 10,000
1880 - 400,000
Two examples of cow towns in Kansas?
- Dodge City
- Wichita
Development of the railroad from Chicago?
Became the meat packing city between 1866 - 1888
6 - 10 million cattle transported there
How many cowboys present on the plains?
40,000
What diminished the cowboy’s job?
The development of the railroads
Where were ranches established?
From Texas to the border with Canada
When were Union stockyards in Chicago opened?
1865
Why were union stockyards opened?
The cattle industry was industrialised. There was demand from northern states and Europe.
Number of cattle on the plains taken from 1880 census:
Colorado
1860 = none
1880 = 790,000
Number of cattle on the plains taken from 1880 census:
Kansas
1860 = 93,000
1880 = 1,500,000
Number of cattle on the plains taken from 1880 census:
Montana
1860 = None
1880 = 430,000
Number of cattle on the plains taken from 1880 census:
Nebraska
1860 = 37,000
1880 = 1,100,000
Number of cattle on the plains taken from 1880 census:
Wyoming
1860 = None
1880 = 520,000
Which winters killed 90% of cattle?
1885 - 1887
What was the results of the great die up?
Smaller ranches
Fenced in via barbed wire
–> More scientific breeding
When were refrigerated carriages introduced?
1875
Example of an area not suited to Cattle breeding?
Foothills of the rockies
What happened at the foothills of the Rockies (Colorado-Wyoming border)?
Sheep farming
Why were there conflicts between sheep farmers and cattle ranchers?
- Sheep were believed to pollute water holes
- Crop the grass too short
How many sheep in the west by 1900?
25 million
