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Ration Day at the Commissary
at Pine Ridge Reservation, S.D.
Source: Nebraska State Historical Society |
On the reservations, commissaries were established to distribute sugar, flour, coffee, bacon, dried beans, and other staples (often referred to as "domestic rations") to Native Americans. Periodically, the government would provide live cattle at events called "beef issues". Herds of around 100 to 150 head of cattle were driven to the reservation agency where families would gather for the distribution. |
Indians butchering their beef issue, circa 1870s
Source: Nebraska State Historical Society |
Cattle would be turned loose on the prairie, and then pursued by mounted hunters, echoing back to the days of the bison hunts. When an animal had been killed, families would dress out the animals where they fell. The Indians would then load the meat onto wagons where it was then dried for storage.
The Omaha Herald described one of these events on Sunday, September 19, 1875:
"About 3,000 mounted Indians surrounded the corral where the cattle were confined; as the names of the Indians were called out, the gate of the corral was swung open and the requisite number of beef were let loose, and then commenced a most savagely exciting scene that pen or picture could depict."
About 95 head of cattle waiting to be issued, circa 1889
Source: Nebraska State Historical Society |
In latter years, the replicated bison hunt ended. With the large number of people, spooked animals, and shooting, the possibility of injury was great. Animals were simply killed in their corrals, and then hauled out where there was room to dress them. Beef issues continued into the 20th century.
Find out more about the Beef Issue
and its consequences in this video. |
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By 1875, cattle had become a permanent part of Nebraska's vista. Some wanted them here; some obviously did not. In the latter part of the nineteenth century, the story of beef would lose some of its rough edges, and create some new ones.
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Beef Moves to Nebraska
