Consequences Of Overstocking The Cattle Industry On The Open Range

Question 1

Overstocked Ranches

Answer 1

Too many cattle were grazing on the same amount of grass.

This led to the grass eroding.

Question 2

Overgrazing

Answer 2

Grass did not have time to re-grow once eaten. Animals did not have enough to eat and the land had dried up.

Question 3

Poor condition

Answer 3

With less grass, the cattle became weaker. This produced poorer quality meat to sell.

Question 4

Less profit

Answer 4

By 1882 profits were going down. Ranchers kept the cattle just in case the prices increased again. Hence even more cattle.

Question 5

A fall in demand.

Answer 5

With so much beef available for cities in the east, prices reduced.
Cattle ranchers received less money.

Question 6

Extreme weather

Answer 6

When drought hit in 1883, the grass dried even more. Prairie fires from storms also reduced the grass further.

Question 7

The great winter die up 1886/7

Answer 7

The winter of 1886/7 was very harsh.

The winter temperatures fell to -55 degrees.

Cattle were already weaker due to overstocking but now they struggled to got to the grass through the snow and ice.

At least 15% of the open range cattle died.

This resulted with many cattlemen becoming bankrupt.