How did the homestead act lead to the end of the open range?

The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged westward expansion by granting 160 acres of public land to settlers who improved it over five years. This influx of settlers led to the establishment of farms, which fragmented the open range and reduced the availability of land for cattle grazing. As farmers fenced their properties and established boundaries, the traditional practice of open-range grazing became increasingly untenable, contributing to the end of the open range era. Consequently, the shift from nomadic cattle ranching to more settled agricultural practices transformed the landscape and economy of the American West.