End of the Cattle Drive

End of the Cattle Drive

The movement of cattle has changed significantly because of the development of new technology and the loss of land.

Rise of Big Ranches

• A number of factors, including the enactment of quarantine laws aimed at preventing the spread of Texas fever and the increased use of fencing, helped bring about an end to the great cattle drives

• The end of the great cattle drives, however, did not stop the movement of Texas cattle to market or the growth of the Texas cattle industry. By the late 1800s, huge ranches spread throughout South Texas and into the northern portion of the state.

Multiple Choice

The end of the cattle drive HURT the cattle industry

• True

• False

Open Ended

Why would Texas Fever cause quarantine laws that affect cattle? What did Texas Fever do to cattle?

More Railroads

In the 1860s, railroad depots north of Texas provided Texas ranchers access to markets for beef on the East and West coasts. In the 1880s, rail lines extended into Texas itself. With the development of railroads throughout Texas, ranchers could ship cattle from points much closer to their operations. Driving cattle north was no longer necessary

Refrigeration

Refrigeration brought about yet another shift in the cattle industry. Before refrigeration became available, animals had to be shipped live to slaughterhouses. Those slaughterhouses had to be near markets to avoid spoilage of the processed meat. Most meatpacking of any beef or pork was done in cities in the East, Midwest, and West coast, where populations were high.

Multiple Choice

What does refrigeration change about the meat market?

• Live animals must be shipped or else it will be spoiled (bad)

• Meat no longer has to be shipped fresh (alive)

• It changes nothing about the meat market

Multiple Choice

What does refrigeration change about the meat market?

• Live animals must be shipped or else it will be spoiled (bad)

• Meat no longer has to be shipped fresh (alive)

• It changes nothing about the meat market

Open Ended

Why would refrigeration affect the cattle drives? Would it help or hurt the drives?

Further advancement of Refrigeration

After the war, engineers made more advances in refrigeration. By 1868, refrigerated ships using dry ice made with carbon dioxide compressors could transport meat from Texas to New York and Europe. Refrigerated rail cars, which allowed chilled meat to be shipped across the country, also came into use. These advances led to the development of a meatpacking industry in Texas, since livestock could now be slaughtered and packaged, then shipped and sold elsewhere. In Texas the railroad, refrigeration, and meatpacking industries were closely linked to the growth of ranches. These businesses supported each other as they expanded.

Open Ended

Why did ranches grow in Texas?

Fencing land for cattle

The destruction of the buffalo herds and the movement of Native Americans to reservations opened more land for Texas ranchers. While many ranchers of the 1800s grazed their cattle on the open range, others bought land for pasture and fenced it. King and Kenedy were among the first ranchers to fence their land. Over the next few years, more and more ranchers fenced in their land to protect their cattle.

Open Ended

If you had the option to fence in your land because the cattle drive is ending, would you? Why/Why not?

Open Ended

What are 2 reasons why the cattle drive ended? How did these reasons cause the end of the travel drive? Answer in complete sentences.