McCulloch County built its economy on cattle, sheep, and goats

When settlers arrived in the 1870s, raising livestock was the main job. By 1880, the county's 87 farms held over 12,000 sheep and 12,000 cattle. Ranchers drove cattle north to Kansas markets. When the railroad arrived in 1903, Brady became a major shipping point for Central Texas livestock and goods.

The wool and mohair industry grew through the early 1900s. Later, Brady gained a name for turkey farming. Nearly 70 percent of the county's farm income has come from livestock and livestock products. That includes cattle, sheep, wool, goats, and mohair. This ranching past still shapes land use and farm valuations across the county today.