A person who raises, tends, or herds cattle, especially on a ranch or in the American West.
Compound of 'cattle' and 'man'; emerged in American English during the 19th century cattle ranching era when large herds were moved across the Great Plains.
The golden age of cattlemen—the 1870s-1890s—produced the legendary 'long drive' where cowboys herded thousands of cattle hundreds of miles from Texas to Kansas, and the actual cattlemen were far more diverse than Hollywood suggests, including Black cowboys and Mexican vaqueros.
Cattleman defaulted to male despite women ranchers and herders managing livestock across Americas; occupational title erased women's labor.
Use 'rancher,' 'livestock herder,' or 'cattle handler' to accurately reflect occupational diversity.
["rancher","cattle herder","livestock manager","cattle handler"]
Women founded and operated major ranches; reclaiming occupational language restores their historical contributions to pastoral economies.
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