Cattle Industry

• Decline of the Cattle Industry - Lower Prices


  So many cows were being sold making the prices fall

  Ranchers kept their cattle instead of selling, hoping that the price would rise
• Decline of the Cattle Industry - Damage to pasture land 


  There was a drought in 1883 that killed grass

  Too many cattle on the land damaging the soil
• Decline of the Cattle Industry - The 'Great Die-up'


  During the winter of 1886-7, temperatures dropped to as low as -55 degrees Celcius

  At least 15% of the cattle on the open range died

  Without enough grass the cows became weak and skinny making them less valuable
• After 1887, ranchers moved to producing high-quality meat