Question

what contributed to the end of open-range cattle ranchindin the mid-1800s?

Answer 1

Simply overgrazing. The ever-increasing number of cattle weakened the range land and reduced the quality of teh grass. The severe winter of 1886/87 caused the death of thousans of already weakened cattle. To keep better control of the grazing land, the farmers began to negotiate grazing leases and fenced off theeir land.