What was Texas challenge in transporting cattle?
Steer transported directly to market went to canneries, where the lowest-quality meat was processed. Some stock raisers responded to this problem by driving their cattle north in the winters, to the colder climates of Colorado or Wyoming, where they could be fattened before going on to sale.
What enabled Texas ranchers to ship cattle instead of drive them long distances?
Railroads crossing the Plains were able to take Cattle to market. The cattle were shipped live to Chicago where they were slaughtered in huge slaughter houses. Then they were refrigerated and sent East for sale. This was made possible by Gustavus Swift who developed refrigerated rail cars.
How long did it take to drive cattle from Texas to Montana?
A typical drive, beginning sometime in the spring, often involved running 2,000 two-year-old steers, and would take about three months to get from Texas to Montana while covering 10 to 15 miles a day.
Why did the cattle industry grow in Texas after the Civil War?
At the end of the war the Texans returned to their ranches to find their cattle herds had grown dramatically. It is estimated that in 1865 there were roughly five million cattle in Texas. Therefore, supply was totally outstripping demand in Texas and beef prices fell dramatically. The need for cattle drives.
What did cattle towns do for the economy?
The economies of these communities were heavily dependent on the seasonal cattle drives from Texas, which brought the cowboys and the cattle that these towns relied upon. Cattle towns were found at the junctions of railroads and livestock trails.
How did cattle come to the United States?
Cattle, just like horses, were first brought to America by the European invaders. By the 1850s, southern Texas was the major centre for cattle farming. The Texas longhorns were a breed that had developed from the original Spanish imports. They were very hardy and could survive on the open range in Texas.
Where was the first cattle trail in Texas?
In 1867, the first cattle trail was blazed from the Red River in northern Texas to Abilene. It was called the Chisholm Trailafter Jesse Chisholm, a part-Cherokee Indian trader who had made a wagon trail along that route. Over the years, many feeder trails led into the main route.
How did Texas cattle fever cause an uproar?
Sometimes they sent armed parties to turn back herds on their trip north through Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Indian territory. Texas cattle fever caused an uproar. No one knew what caused the disease, how southern cattle spread it, or why it disappeared in the winter. It was time to find a solution.