Final answer:
Cattle drives came to an end due to the use of barbed wire fencing, the emergence of the commercial meatpacking industry, and government intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cattle drives came to an end due to a combination of factors. One factor was the increased use of barbed wire fencing, which allowed ranchers to fence off their lands and prevent cattle from roaming freely. Another factor was the emergence of the commercial meatpacking industry, which reduced the need for cattle drives by enabling the transportation of processed meat instead of live animals. Additionally, the federal government intervened to restore order during conflicts between small ranchers and big ranchers, ultimately putting an end to the tradition of cattle drives.