Discuss what factors led to the development and eventual end of the open-range cattle industry in ...

The open-range cattle industry grew as a result of a number of factors:
 the establishment of the railroad as a means of shipping cattle from the rangelands to eastern markets.
 lack of a system of private land ownership in the region.
 inadequate availability of fencing materials in the early years.
It ended because of
 irregular climate conditions.
 the advent of inexpensive and effective fencing materials.
 political decisions to favor the settlement of the area.
 settlement of the area by landowners.

Both overgrazing and undergrazing eventually result in the invasion of a range area by shrubs and other large plants
that grow taller than the grasses and dominate them by casting shade on them.

Trees are the dominant plant in areas where they can grow for long periods of time with adequate rainfall, soil,
and favorable growing conditions. In the prairies, there is often not enough, or unreliable water to support trees.
In other areas, natural or people-caused fires have prevented the growth of trees.