The American cattle industry started in Florida, Judge Nelson Bailey told those gathered fo...
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The American cattle industry started in Florida, Judge Nelson Bailey told those gathered for the Great Florida Cattle Drive on Dec. 4.
Pounce De Leon brought the first cattle and horses to Florida in 1521.
“The old west began right here in Florida,” he said. In addition to horses and cattle, the Spanish also brought hogs and goats. The hogs and goats were turned loose to multiply so there would be an available source of meat. Horses were sometimes left on islands far enough offshore that the horses would not voluntarily swim to the mainland.
Bailey said in Spain they had large war horses and smaller traveling horses. The Spanish brought the smaller horses to Florida and their descendants would become Florida Cracker horses.
Florida now has ranches over 100,000 acres. The largest Florida ranch, the Deseret Ranch, is the largest cattle ranch east of the Mississippi River and is home to 45,000 cattle.
Bailey said those who worked cattle in the Sunshine State were called Cracker cow hunters. Instead of using a rope to catch a steer, they used cow whips to herd the cattle. He added they didn’t hurt the cattle. “Ninety-nine percent of what you’re doing with cattle is using the sound,” he explained.
The Great Florida Cattle Drive, underway this week, celebrates the history of cattle in Florida.