Early history of ranching
With cold winters, traditional ranching techniques could not apply, but the open areas of grass often cleared by strong winds allowed for open range grazing. This was a favorable way of raising cattle vs. the climate limitations in Wyoming and Colorado. Open range ranching was still difficult as the cattle were exposed to predators when feeding in wide open plains. Cowboys protected the herds from the elements and predators.
In the 1850s large cattle operation run by the Grant Brothers was focused on trading well-fed oxen with exhausted Oregon cattle. This buying and selling strategy helped increase the overall cattle in Montana and established the first organized process of cattle management. Later, cattle drives from Texas brought a large number of stock to Montana in order to find new grazing lands.
In the early 1880s, homesteaders looking for free land followed cattlemen to Montana, ultimately ending the open range grazing.
Montana’s Largest Early Cattle Drive
In 1866 Nelson Story, a successful gold miner from Alder Gulch, led a significant cattle drive of over 3,000 heads from Texas to Montana. After his large earnings from gold merchandise and mining, he pursued the cattle business. A treacherous winter of 1886-1887 killed 15,000 head, and shortly after, he decided to sell his remaining cattle and exit the business. That winter, with early snow and warming and freezing trends, caused the grasslands to ice over, making it impossible for the cattle to feed. During that time, it has been estimated that 60% of Montana’s herd (362,000 cattle) died of starvation.
Ranching becomes Montana’s leading industry
The ranching industry in Montana grew hand in hand with the gold rush and an influx of miners who needed a steady food supply, and the local ranches were eager to deliver.
The Northern Pacific Railroad was constructed in 1883 and instantly transformed the cattle industry in Montana. Ranchers gained a more efficient means to transport cattle to markets across the nation. and no longer being bound by driving it across the stateliness. This attracted local and international investors and led to the expansion of ranching operations in the state. By 1885, it’s estimated that over half a million cattle grazed Montana’s plains.
THE STATE'S MISSION TODAY
Today, Montana’s ranching legacy is preserved in sites like the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (pictured to the left), which pays homage to the early cattle that thrived in the Deer Lodge Valley. Montana’s ranchers continue to uphold traditions marrying them with more innovative and efficient practices to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of the industry for future generations.
