The grasslands of the Great Plains provide an ideal home for livestock.
The Great Plains of North America run through the center of the United States. This vast grassland of rolling hills extends from Canada to Texas and from Nebraska to Idaho. Agriculture, especially animal husbandry, became a major economic activity in the Great Plains area as Americans of European descent settled in the area. The region has a variety of climates and vegetation that provide an ideal environment for raising both animals and crops.
Cattle
Cattle are a staple of the Great Plains economy.
Prior to the Civil War, large herds of wild cattle roamed the Plains region of Texas. These grasslands provided a large area for grazing. After the war, ranchers such as Charles Goodnight saw the economic potential of raising cattle on the Great Plains. The growth of the railroads, the foundation of the Loving-Goodnight Trail and the growth of cow-towns such as Abilene and Dodge City in Kansas made it easier for ranchers on the Great Plains to sell their meat in the East. Today, the Great Plains produces much of the nation's meat from both grazing and grain-fed-cattle operations.
Sheep
Ranchers raise sheep for their wool.
The grassland ranges of the Great Plains attracted sheep ranchers who raised sheep for wool. Spanish ranchers introduced sheep into New Mexico and Texas during the nineteenth century. The grasslands allowed the sheep to graze like cattle. However, these sheep owners came into conflict with cattle ranchers. During the late 1800s, this conflict eventually erupted into range wars over land and water in Arizona and Wyoming. The sheep industry remains a major component of the Great Plains economy today.
Hogs
Raising hogs is a lucrative business.
Hogs, also referred to as swine, also play an important role in the meat industry of the Great Plains. During the 19th century, hog-raising developed on diversified family farms. These farmers used home-grown grain such as corn and sorghum for feed. Today, hog production has became a major commercial enterprise with the growth of large corporate hog farms. Nebraska, Oklahoma and Kansas are the major hog producers in the Great Plains region.
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