Beef industry: Rise of the Modern Industry
Beef industry: Westward Expansion
Beef Supply and Use, 1990-2006, in Millions of Pounds
The age of the Cattle Kingdom lasted only through the 1880’s. Permanent agricultural settlement spread onto the Great Plains as a result of the Homestead Act of 1862 and the beginning of the wheat boom during the later years of the century. The amount of land available for open grazing declined. The continued development of a rail system in the region eliminated the need for the long cattle drives of the earlier period, and the introduction of barbed wire (developed by Joseph Glidden during the 1870’s) enabled wheat farmers and eventually cattle ranchers to fence in their land. Several years of bad weather, including the drought of 1883 and the severe winter of 1886-1887, further undercut the system. By the 1890’s, the raising of cattle on fencedin ranches had largely replaced open grazing, although the old system was still practiced in some areas into fairly modern times.
Over time, other dimensions of the industry also changed. Although Chicago remained a major meat-processing center and destination point for cattle into the second half of the twentieth century, a process of decentralization within the industry gradually took place. Refrigerated railroad cars, initially a boon to centralization, in the end also made it possible (and cheaper) to slaughter animals where they were raised rather than transport them to large urban centers. During the 1950’s, both Armour’s and Swift’s closed their Chicago plants, and in 1971, the Union Stockyards also closed, bringing another key part of the old system to an end.
Beef production remains a major food industry in the United States. Beginning with the National Cattle Growers Association in 1884, various organizations have been formed to encourage unity among cattle producers as well as to promote consumer interest in beef products. Scientific practices, including understanding and treatment of animal diseases and animal feed requirements, have been introduced. The beef industry, in both its historical development and its present practices, stands as one of the leaders in the shift from independent producers to what is known as modern agribusiness.
