Why did cattle owners have to buy private property on which to

Answer 1

graze their cattle?

Cattle owners had to buy private property on which to graze their cattle because the open range system, where cattle were allowed to roam freely on public land, was gradually replaced by private property ownership and land use regulations. As more settlers moved westward, they began to fence their land and restrict access to it. This made it difficult for cattle owners to find suitable grazing land for their herds. To avoid conflicts with landowners and local laws, cattle owners had to buy or lease private land on which their cattle could graze. This led to the growth of the cattle industry and the development of ranching as a business.