Florida Cattle Ranching

Florida Cattle Ranching. 500 Years. In 1521, Juan Ponce De Leon brought a small herd of Andalusian cattle and horses with him on his second expedition to the New World. These were the first cattle and horses to ever set foot (or hoof) on what is now the continental United States. The Spanish cattle multiplied and roamed free throughout Florida. Throughout the 1700s, Native Americans who eventually became known as the Seminole Tribe played a large part in growing and sustaining early cattle ranching. Settlers of British descent, who were known as Crackers, moved into Florida in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They began to round up the wild Spanish cattle to form their own herds. These became known as Florida Cracker cattle, the foundation of Florida's cattle industry. The animals were running wild in the woods. The only thing you had to do to make it yours was catch them and put your brand on them. , , Wars provided an economic boost for Florida cattlemen, who provisioned armies during the Seminole, Civil and Spanish American Wars. The Civil War disrupted the Florida's cattle trade between Cuba, but Florida cowmen became beef suppliers to both armies of the Civil War. During the next three decades, trade boomed with Cuba, Key West and Nassau. Florida became the nation's leading cattle exporter. , , The 20th century brought changes affecting cattle ranching infrastructure and occupational traditions. As Cuban demand declined early in the century, ranchers turned to domestic markets and cattle were shipped by rail throughout the country. As early as 1858, ranchers attempted to improve the quality of their herds with Brahman cattle, originally from India. Since the 1930s, ranchers have successfully cross-bred native cattle with Brahman, Angus and Hereford to improve size, resistance to heat, hardiness and meat quality. This led to the development of hybrids such as the Braford and Brangus breeds. , , After 500 years, cattle ranching in Florida, from small, family-owned herds to large-scale operations, is an integral part of Florida's culture. Multi-generational family ranches have cared for the land, provided employment for many residents, and continue to be good "stewards of the land".