End of the Open Range (jan 1, 1880 – jan 1, 1890)

Description:

Factors:
-Overstocking
More and more cattle were being reared on the Plains without sufficient grassland and the cattle began to starve.
-Fall in Demand
There was so much beef available in the east that it began to sell cheaply, so the industry became less profitable as demand fell.
-The Great Die Up
The winter of 1886-87 was extremely harsh and killed about 15% of herds. Those that did survive were in awful condition and caused prices to drop further.

Switch to Smaller Ranches:
-Smaller ranches were fenced off with barbed wire.
-They were safer as ranchers could keep an eye on their herds, they could be sheltered in bad weather and they could be protected from rustling.
-Cattle ranching slowly began to become profitable again.

Added to timeline:

Date: