Around the ending of the fifteenth century, Europeans who first settled in America brought longhorn cattle along with them. The population of cattle multiplied. By the early nineteenth century, more cattle ranches were common in places such as Mexico. Mexico was included to become Texas. Longhorn cattle were kept on open range and looked after by cowboys also referred to as vaqueros. In 1836, Texas became independent because Mexicans left with their cattle behind. Around that time beef was not popular so animals were only used for their skin and tallows.
However; in 1850, the use for beef flourished which resulted in some ranchers becoming wealthy. The Civil War, 1861, broke out between the Northern and Southern states. Texan ranchers left their farms to fight along with the Confederate army. Confederate lost and the economy of the South was destroyed. Although the economy failed, the cattle that were left to their own, multiplied. There were approximately 5 million longhorn cattle’s in Texas. Yet the number of cattle increased, no market was made as of 1865 in Texas. How could the cattle increase and no profit or market was made?
That changed when a man came up with one amazing idea. His name was Joseph McCoy. “Who Is Joseph McCoy? “……… Joseph “Cowboy” McCoy (December 21, 1837 – October 19, 1915), was a livestock trader who lived in Chicago around the 19th century. Joseph wanted to bring the longhorn cattle from Texas to Chicago. From there, he wanted to distribute the cattle to the East. He would have made lots money by doing this process. Homesteaders who established themselves in Kansas objected to cattle crossing over their land. Homesteader is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency.
It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of foodstuffs, and it may or may not also involve the small-scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork for household use or sale. Homesteaders objected this idea because they believed cattle cursed a tick that would kill the other animals. Cattlemen carrying cattle through Kansas met fierce oppositions and were reluctant to make the journey. McCoy knew railroad companies would object to carrying more freight. The Kansas Pacific railway ran past a frontier village. The village is known to be called “Abilene”.
McCoy built a hotel, stockyard, office, and a bunk in the village. This village is known as “Abilene”. Abilene was one of the very first cow-towns. Cattle were to be driven from Texas then to Abilene. From Abilene, the cattle were taken back East by the train on the Kansas Pacific railroad. Abilene was near the end of the trail that had been established during the Civil War by Jesse Chisholm. He was known to be responsible for shipping supplies to the Confederate army. The trail laid west of Kansas farms. This meant the cattlemen could use it without hostility from the Kansas homesteaders.
By the 1867, McCoy spent $5,000 on advertising and riders. He promised a good price for the sale of cattle in Abilene. He was a man of his word! One cattleman bought 600 cows for $5,400 and sold them in Abilene for $16,800. Was it right to sell the cattle for way more than you bought it? Present Day Cattle Ranches……. In present day cowboys mean living the ranching lifestyle. Cowboy is the symbolic image of American western culture of dates approximately more than two centuries ago. Cattle ranching endeavors is one of the largest segments of American agriculture. More than 1 million beef produces in the U.
S. are responsible for the 94 million plus head of beef cattle. There is a massive amount of sheep, goats and horses that are raised in rural parts of America. The ability of live stocking to manage causes the cowboy way of life to be crucial to American society. Today there is about 15 states who still believe and work on cattle ranches. Here are some states that are still cowboy cultured. Texas is known as the cowboy capital of the world. In South Texas, the mesquite trees and open prairies are flourishing in the town of Panhandle. Cowboys work hard there every day because it’s their way of life.
There is still a huge need of ranches to be branded commercially cattle; helps to be identified. On other ranches, tagging and tattooing registered stock will meet your requirements. Therefore; it is no surprise that working cattle is a year-round job that takes dedication and commitment to the well-being of all animals. Rural Kansas is considered the home to both farming and ranching. The flat lands and mildly rolling hills provide a beautiful landscape. If you have ever driven through rural Kansas, you will see that it is miles between towns and even houses.
In the corn fields, you will find cattle on feed and prairies. Being a cowboy in Kansas just means you understand the values of hard work. Then there is the great state Utah. Utah is the state for living the life of a cowboy. It stems from an early age for most people. They learn that working with cattle, goats or sheep builds responsibility and character. Many cowboys in Utah raise their animals on the open range. This requires lots of constant checking and nurturing. While raising and selling livestock is a business for all cowboys, the memories and enthusiasm for animal husbandry isn’t for sale.
Towans know the cowboy life is important to their livelihoods. They wake up at the earliest of dawn and work until dusk. That is just the price you pay at which you’re a cowboy. Raising animals isn’t just checking the fences, although that’s part of it. Keeping animals healthy is a 24/7 job that no cowboy takes for granted. Just ask a cowboy. Montana is home to some of the best grass in the country. That’s a plus with cattle because the cattle flourish all summer long. Montana is also home to many hardworking cowgirls and cowboys in the United States. There are events designed to reflect everyday work.
The Custer Ranch Rodeo displays some of these cowboys and cowgirls’ finest talents. With a attractive landscape on the horizon, Wyoming cowboys saddle up on horses to check cattle and bring in the calves for branding and vaccinations. Don’t let the beauty fool you, the work is hard and the days are long. But, there is no better place to work than the great outdoors. Many rural areas have local rodeos that are designed to highlight some of the working cowboys’ everyday job responsibilities. While rodeos have become an entertainment for many people, they still have their practical side for many cowboys.
Roping calves in the wide-open pastures, wrestling a steer that is on the move and breaking a horse (training it so you can ride it) are just a few of the events that simulate a cowboy’s job. Next time you watch a rodeo, keep in mind that many of the events are still used in the cowboy way of life. In South Dakota, not all cowboys ride horses. It’s true. While you find most images and stories about cowboys working cattle from horseback, there are many ranches that work cattle daily and do not own a single horse. By using a sorting stick, these cowboys work through the cattle and pen only those that need attention.
Don’t let the beaches of Florida fool you. One of the largest ranches in the United States resides in the Sunshine State. With large amounts of rainfall, Florida cowboys must be adept and ready for all types of weather. Florida has the longest history in cattle ranching. Mathematics is involved in every type of way of our everyday life. We use math with very simple things but we do not really realize it. Imagine yourself as a cook. You are getting ready to prepare your famous ice cream brownie spiral from scratch. You need approximately, four brownie mixes, 1 egg for each brownie mix, 1/3 of oil for ever brownie mix, and water.
Without a measuring cup, you get each accurate amount of eggs, oil, and water. That is using math! How would you know the amount of oil to use without knowing the conversing of measurements? How does Math and Cattle Ranching relate?….. In order to run a cattle ranch you have to have many skills. Being good at math is just one of the many. Since the population of cattle has increased, the profit of them has too. Cattlemen and cattlewomen have come up with many ways to get a good profit for cattle. Here are a few examples of the ways the cattle are profited.
Calculating the grazing use by assigning a dollar ($1) value for each head of the animal is called Head Months. By doing so, the value of head month varies for each class livestock. However; the disadvantage to it is often arbitrary and historically set. It depends on the area the grazing is occurring. -Example: 200 heads every 2 months equals 400 HD At $20 per head month the total revenue is $20*400= $8000 Then there are the animal unit months. This method was developed 1960’s. It was to standardize measuring grass consumption for grasping animal.
The value of the pile of grass the cow ate in one month or 900lbs (30lbs of grass in 30days. ) -Example: 200 heads *1. 32 AUM/month* 2 months =528 AUMS The amount of forage one animal will eat in the day is known as the stock days. This method also corresponds with the weight of the animal. -Example: 200 head *60 days = 12,000 stock days. At 0. 96/pair/day is your total revenue is $0. 96*12,000= 11,520. As you can see, math can be used in everyday life with many things. Math is a necessity when it comes to things such as running a cattle farm.