please help

Which of the following contributed to the cattle ranching bust?
a. overgrazing
b. cattle thieves
c. competition from Mexican ranchers
d. invention of barbed wire

C?

What do you mean by "cattle ranching bust?"

Yes, you are correct. The option C, competition from Mexican ranchers, did contribute to the cattle ranching bust. However, to better understand why option C is the correct answer, let me explain each option briefly:

a. Overgrazing: Overgrazing occurs when the number of cattle on a ranch exceeds the carrying capacity of the land. This leads to depletion of vegetation and soil erosion, resulting in decreased productivity. While overgrazing can be a problem in cattle ranching, it is not the primary factor in the cattle ranching bust.

b. Cattle thieves: Cattle thieves can certainly have an impact on individual ranchers by stealing their livestock. However, in the context of the cattle ranching bust, where the entire industry is affected, cattle thieves alone cannot be considered the primary cause.

c. Competition from Mexican ranchers: This option refers to the increase in competition that American ranchers faced from Mexican ranchers during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Mexican ranchers had a comparative advantage as they had access to larger areas of land and lower costs of production. This increased competition reduced the profitability of American cattle ranching and contributed to its decline.

d. Invention of barbed wire: The invention of barbed wire revolutionized ranching in the late 1800s. It allowed farmers and ranchers to fence their land and control the movement of cattle. While this innovation was beneficial to individual ranchers by protecting their livestock and property, it also resulted in the enclosure of open range land. This limited the free grazing grounds for cattle, which eventually led to the decline of the cattle ranching industry.

Considering all the options, the most significant factor contributing to the cattle ranching bust was the competition from Mexican ranchers (option C).