The Cattle Industry in the 1880s

What was the cattle industry like in the 1880s?

By the 1880s, the cattle industry had flourished to a point of overstocking itself.

Why was having too many cattle in the cattle industry a problem in the 1880s?

There were several consequences to overstocking the cattle:

• ❖ So much beef was available the price of cattle dropped.
• ❖ Droughts and prairie fires left grass in short supply for the many cattle that needed it for food.
• ❖ The Great Die-Up. The exceptionally severe winter of 1886-87 saw thousands of cattle die as they could not eat the grass through the snow.
• ❖ Many ranchers started to farm smaller areas to enable them to keep cattle alive in the severe winters. They fenced the ranches off for protection.
• ❖ Quality of beef became important, and many ranchers switched to Hereford or Holstein cattle, which were considered 'pure breeds'.