Where can I find information about bison?
The best place to find good information is the National Bison Association (www.bisoncentral.com). The NBA produces the Bison Breeder's Handbook and publishes Bison World magazine. They also have a membership directory which can be used to locate producers and associations in your state. The Great Plains Buffalo Association (www.gpbuffalo.org) promotes the use of grass pastures, sound grassland management, and natural, sustainable management practices. A web site on grass farming can be found at www.grassfarmer.com.

Which is correct, "buffalo" or "bison"?
Both names are correct and often used interchangeably. The scientific name of the American bison is "Bison bison" (Genus species). When early settlers crossed America, they saw rivers of great beasts that resembled the buffalo that some were familiar with from traveling in Africa or Asia. Thus, the Native American Bison Bison became commonly referred to as ‘buffalo’.The American bison is not a "true" buffalo scientifically speaking. The true buffalo are the African Cape Buffalo and the Asian Water Buffalo.  There are two subspecies of bison in North America: the Plains Bison (mainly in the U.S.) and the Wood Bison (mainly in Canada.) There is also a European Bison called the Wisent (pronounced wee'-sent.). Many people in the bison industry package the meat they sell as "bison" so customers understand that they are getting bison meat and not water buffalo meat.

Are bison tame like cattle?
Bison are WILD animals and must be treated as such. They can't be really tamed, but they can get used to you. Some animals may never tolerate you coming near them. A visit to a working bison ranch will help you to understand the power and agility of these animals. 

What does it take to get into bison ranching?
As in any agricultural endeavor, the cost of getting into bison ranching varies. Grass and the management of it is the most important factor. The amount of land required for bison is about the same as that for cattle but the grass requirements are more specific. If the land is already producing good quality grass (i.e. total nonstructural carbohydrates, digestible protein content, etc.) you will start out ahead of the game.

An important factor in the cost of starting a bison ranch is your philosophy. Some ranchers use "high input farming." They use fertilizers, pesticides, cultivation, feeding grain, and improved grass varieties. Other ranchers use low input farming, using no pesticides, occasional burning, limited soil cultivation and limited fertilizer. Instead, this group focuses on native grasses, total soil nutrient balance and limited (less than 1% of their diet) feeding of grain: using range cubes as a supplemental protein source and as a management tool.

Production methods are similar to that for cattle with a few exceptions. The use of growth hormones is illegal for use on bison in the U.S., and bison are generally not castrated and artificial insemination is currently not being used. Bison grow at a slower rate than cattle, so producers must understand that and work it into their budget. Another issue is that bison respond poorly to tranquilizers, in fact, bison sometimes die after being tranquilized. There is no need to use tranquilizers if bison are handled properly.

Bison require yearly vaccinations and application of yearly worming/fly prevention. Veterinary costs are lower for bison because bison are less likely to get sick than cattle. To handle the animals safely, a squeeze chute system especially made for bison is used. It has bars on the top of the chute so the bison can't jump out, a crash gate and higher walls on the sweep tub. Working pens for sorting the animals come in handy, especially for larger herds. Bison are most likely to be injured during working, and it is the most stressful time on the ranch. A chute system can be invaluable for treating minor injuries (scratched eyes, broken horns, impacted hooves, infections) testing for specific diseases, and weighing. A veterinarian can't treat an animal that isn't in a chute.

How do I get started raising bison?
Educate yourself! This type of operation takes commitment, energy, time, and money. Take classes in cattle management and pasture management, learn everything about the part of Texas where you will have your ranch. This kind of basic information will be helpful and you can apply it to bison. Grass management is very important to your success as a bison rancher. Bison growers consider themselves grass farmers first and bison producers second.

Visit bison ranches.  Many ranchers will gladly give a tour and great information, too. Be sure you visit an operation that intelligently manages their bison.  Don't buy from just anyone with a few bison in a pasture. Look at the condition of their bison, their fences and corral system. Ask about their management program. Buy from a reputable producer and develop your "bison eye" at an auction. There are several well-run state bison association auctions around the country, usually held November - February. Have the fence and grass ready before you buy bison. 

The best advice for beginners is start small and start with calves. You will have lessons to learn if you have never worked bison before, and adult bison will not be forgiving. With calves you can get in with them and they will get used to you.  They will learn not to fear you and eventually to like you; and as they end up the oldest animals in the herd, the others will learn from them. The more time you spend with them the better. If you buy an adult animal, it may be a cull, and it may have been culled because of bad temperament.  As your herd grows and you become experienced, then you may take a risk on buying adult animals.

There will be a time when you have too many animals to go in the pasture with them, or as they grow up the bulls may start to challenge you. Don't even think of approaching a cow with a calf; bison cows are fiercely protective moms, whether you are a coyote or a rancher! 

Learning to manage your herd will be very important to you in the years to come. Herds sometimes escape their home fields and tend to roam quite far away. If you have trained your herd to come when you give them range cubes you can simply shake the range cube bucket and the head female will lead the herd all the way home. That's the advantage to knowing your herd from when they are calves. The original animals will teach the rest of the herd how to act properly! Expect that at sometime your herd may get out. Adding a gate to every side of your perimeter fencing, even if it is a fence line shared with your neighbor, will make it much easier to get your bison back home.

Finally, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER allow your animals to inbreed! Have a plan for what you want to do with your bison once they start producing.

I don't have any land. How can I own bison?
Believe it or not, there is a way, called an Absentee Ownership Program (AOP). People with no land actually own the bison, but they live on a buffalo ranch and the producer cares for them. The owners can visit whenever they want; they even come to the ranch and help out.

What and how much do bison eat?
Grass, grass, and more grass. Bison eat more grass as a percentage of their diet than all other range herbivores. It's important to understand the carrying capacity of your land, or how much grass your land can produce. Talk to your county agricultural extension agent. On average, grass can carry one adult bison (or beef cow) per 3-4 acres. Grass management is key: this includes planting, fertilizing, weed management, when to put the bison in the pasture and when to take them off, and when to make hay. Don't plan on feeding hay year round, it is expensive and animals don't do well on hay year round.

Grass management is of primary importance to buffalo producers. Just imagine if you had to feed your entire family on food you grew in your yard; you would place a lot of importance on it! Get pastures established first, feeding hay that you did not grow on your land can be very expensive. You want to feed as little hay and as much grass as possible by managing your grass wisely. Buffalo Ranchers consider themselves grass farmers, and bison are the harvesters. Great resources are: the Stockman Grass Farmer magazine (1-800-748-9808). Also get to know your county agricultural extension agent and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) agent. They can help and their service is free.

Can bison forage for their food, even in winter?
Bison are able to "plow" their head into the snow to get at grass. However, if there is no grass, the bison will starve. It is important that the "standing" hay (grass left standing in the fields going into winter) be able to hold its nutritional value in the winter, many grasses do not. The short prairie grasses are more likely to retain their nutrition. Another important consideration is while standing hay MAY retain its protein content while covered with snow, this is not true where it rains in the winter! Rain will leach protein out of standing hay; snow doesn't do this. In Texas, standing hay is considered useless after January 1 because of this fact.

If you rely on standing hay, then this must be managed correctly before winter. Bison can't eat weeds and be expected to survive. Most any bison (or cattle) rancher will go into the winter with a certain amount of baled hay put up ahead of time. Some ranchers also supplement with range cubes - advisable if the baled or standing hay is not of sufficient protein content (approximately 7%.) In Texas, bison and cattle need about 4-5 round bales per head per winter.

How many acres does one buffalo require?
They need as much space as the grass can carry. The summer stocking rate is completely dependent on your area of the country (a function of sunlight, rainfall, soil type, pasture rotation, grass type and management, etc.)  Talk to your local county agriculture extension agent about your stocking rate. The winter is a different story altogether.

How do I buy a bison calf?
www.Bisoncentral.com lists upcoming auctions. Bison calves are typically born April-June. They are sometimes weaned at 6 months old, however, some producers don't wean at all. Unfortunately, some producers take their calves to auction before they should be weaned. These calves will have a hard time catching up and will probably never thrive. A good rule of thumb is not to buy a calf under 250 pounds or any calf with a caramel baby coat.

Are bison difficult to keep?
Keeping bison takes planning, money, and the ability to learn from your mistakes. Fencing is the most important part of your bison operation. Before you bring bison home, you have to have strong fences, and they have to be higher than cattle fences.  Every bison ranch needs a specialized squeeze chute in case the animals need doctoring.

What are bison personalities like?
Each animal has a different personality. The common denominator is that they are WILD animals. Some can be tamed, but they are not pets. Bison have a strong herd instinct and do best when there are at least 5-6 of them. If you buy one bison and add it to the herd, it may not make a friend and end up a loner. So try to buy at least two similar animals from any one herd. If necessary, you may isolate two bison of the same age and sex from the herd until they bond. Bison need to have peers to thrive. Owning only one bison can make for a very unhappy and possibly dangerous animal.

What are bison’s health care needs?
All bison coming into your herd should be tested clean for tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis (bangs.) If not tested at an auction, you should request that the seller have these tests done. A fly and worm program are necessary in most parts of Texas.  Use a similar program to what cattle ranchers use in your area; ask a local large animal vet for a recommendation. Fly parasites are an organic option for fly control, but sometimes requires supplementation with an insecticidal back rub. In order to worm/apply fly control/vaccinate your bison you will need a bison chute.   

Sheep should not be on the same ranch as cattle or bison. Sheep may carry malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) even though they show no signs of MCF.  Since MCF is fatal to cattle and bison, cattle and bison should not even share fence lines with sheep. Virtually all wildebeest in this country have MCF, but while the MCF carried by sheep is detectable, the strain carried by wildebeest can't be detected in bison. Therefore, use caution when buying bison from an exotic animal breeder.

How does a producer bring a bison ‘to market’?
There are several ways to sell your bison: sell at an auction, sell to an individual (called private treaty), sell to a feedlot/slaughterhouse, or sell meat. Auctions require getting your bison TB/bangs tests done within 30 days of the auction which requires 2 trips through a chute, and adding an ear tag supplied by the auction. Interstate movement of bison requires these tests. Beyond the cost of testing and vaccinations, most auctions charge a 5% commission.

You can sell to another producer or feedlot and they may not ask you to get the tests done. Many producers don't want to deal with slaughtering and finding/delivery to customers. The option is to sell live bison to a slaughter facility. If you sell meat, be prepared to spend lots of time and energy. Bison can be slaughtered at a local slaughter plant and stored in a ranch freezer.  Don't forget to add the cost of delivery to your cost of production.

What are bison fencing requirements?
A major cost of raising bison will be higher fences. The fence must be sturdy as bison may try to push through them or jump over them. Bison also have a pecking order and smaller ones sometimes get jostled into the fence.  7 foot t-posts for perimeter fencing, 6 or 6-1/2 foot t-posts for cross fencing should suffice. High-tensile barbed wire is better because it is easy to put up alone, and simple to patch if it breaks. The wire should be high and taut, but most importantly the animals inside should have no reason to want to leave!

How do bison take to horses? Horses are sometimes gored by bison.

Can bison be kept in stalls? Bison are WILD animals; you can't keep them in a stall.

Do bison have twins? Bison do have twins, but it is uncommon.

I am interested in bison as an alternative to beef.  I try to eat healthy but am getting tired of chicken and turkey all of the time. I really crave the taste of a burger!
Bison is a great alternative for people who want to improve their diet, but hate to give up the pleasure of red meat.  Many doctors recommend bison meat to their heart patients as a low fat alternative to beef. Bison meat has less fat and calories than skinless chicken!  It is readily interchangeable with beef in any beef recipe and has a delicious (not gamey) flavor.

Bison is best served medium rare, since overcooking will make the meat less tender (much like beef). Bison is available in cuts similar to beef, but because Bison is very lean, it does not marble. It appears more red in color than beef, and the best way to cook it is to remember the ‘low and slow’ rule. If using bison in a slow cooker, add liquid and plan on leaving it in the cooker for about 10 hours.  The meat will fall apart and be tender and delicious!  If you are grilling steaks or burgers, never put the meat in the flame, but instead cook over warm coals.  Cook the meat on one side, flip it and then take it right off of the grill – Never squish the meat, since the natural juices of the meat will be released.

Some large producers grain feed bison in feedlots just as cattle. Some bison are grass-fed with very minimal grain - only in the form of range cubes and less than 1% of their diet. You can ask your producer what their bison are eating if you would like to know. Remember, bison are never injected with hormones, since they are illegal for use on bison. Also, BSE (mad cow disease) is not a threat with bison.

Resources on Grass and Grazing Management

Books:

• Moving ‘Em – by Burt Smith
• Intensive Grazing Management -  by Burt Smith
• Range Management -  by Jerry Holochek
• Grazing Management -  by J.F Vallentine
• Quality Pasture -  by Allan Nation
• Greener Pastures On Your Side Of The Fence – by Bill Murphy
• Grass Productivity – by Andre' Voisin
• The Time It Never Rained -  by Elmer Kelton
• Grasslands -  by Richard Manning

Periodicals:

• The Stockman Grass Farmer - (800) 748-9808
• Rangelands - (303) 355-7070
• Journal Of Range Management - (303) 355-7070