What was Chicago Stock yard?

Question

And what was the significance of it?

Answer 1

Called the "Hog Butcher to the World" by poet Carl Sandburg, there was actually a time when Chicago's stockyards processed 82% of all American meat. At its peak, the Chicago Stockyards were 475 acres with 50 miles of roads, 130 miles of railroad and over 25,000 employees from all walks of life.

Farmers from all over the country drove their cattle alive to the Chicago stockyard.

The centralization and scale of this operation was understandable. Meat processing had been limited to cold weather months until ice-cooled refrigeration units came into use in 1872 and the refrigerated railroad car in 1882.

Answer 2

Chicago was the meat butcher for the country. Stock yard was where the animals were slaughtered.

Answer 3

Hog butcher to the world. Carl Sandberg poem "Chicago" click on link

Answer 4

http://www.chicagohs.org/history/stock.html

I believe, in general, the stockyards were where livestock was slaughtered/butchered for consumption.