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During this lecture we discussed the "ways and habits of the west." To begin the lecture we talked about how there weren't really any famous cowboys, but how many actors and TV shows had made cowboys in general into legend. We talked about how cattle reached the Plains, having started out in Spain and working their way to Texas. We then talked about some of the trails that cattle drives used, including the Chisolm, Western, and Goodnight-Loving Trails. I thought it was really interesting how you only needed 9 or so people for a cattle drive to keep thousands of animals under control. I've seen that many people try to move a herd of only a hundred or so cattle only a few miles and it amazes me that cowboys back then didn't struggle with so few people. We then discussed the different cattle towns that rose in importance as law and order progressed in other growing towns, forcing the cattle drives to go elsewhere. We also talked about Canadian ranching and some of the similarities and differences between American and Canadian ranching. The winters of 1887 and 1907 were tough on cattle, but a slack cattle market, barbed wire, and herd laws really cut down on the need for cattle drives. With fenced in herds, farmers could have purebred herds and have higher quality beef. We talked about the progression of the cattle kingdoms and how feedlots and meatpacking companies became a big part of what was happening. I also thought it was interesting to see some of the factors that affect the beef market, including consumer tastes and animal rights.