The meat of bison finished on corn has a taste similar to beef, which many consumers prefer. If you want to learn more about bison farming, read from our guide. The meat usually is custom cut, vacuum packed, frozen, and shipped according to the buyer's specifications. Keep accurate health and reproduction records. You have to let your facilities do the handling, not the cowboy. In fact, Estrada said, the bison cannot be handled at all like cattle. The industry, though, is still small. This publication was developed by the Small-scale and Part-time Farming Project at Penn State with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture–Extension Service. LEARN HOW TO STOP THE INVASIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY, Coronavirus: Information and resources for the Extension Community, Download PDF Save For Later Print Purchase Print. With good management, they can live as long as 30 years. Once the bison is sheared or brushed and the hair is sorted, the undercoat is typically mixed with longer fibers such as wool or alpaca hair to make it easier to handle. This will allow you to keep a superior bull longer than two to three years. Bison are sold to public game reserves and zoos. Experimental crossing of bison with domestic cattle dates back at least as far as the 1700s. Cattle Of course, you can’t just spin fiber from any old cow that comes your way. Because bison meat has a low fat content (less than 3 percent) and a cholesterol content that is lower than that of beef, organizations such as the American Heart Association and Weight Watchers recommend bison meat as a healthy alternative (Table 1). Their meat is leaner and has a lower cholesterol content than does ordinary beef. With good management, cows can reproduce every year and can begin breeding at two years of age. The hybrids are known as cattaloes or beefaloes. Predators are also of little concern as the herd will defend themselves. Beefaloes will graze open winter range too cold for cattle. You should carefully consider how to manage risk on your farm. The extra nutrition gained from supplements increases reproductive efficiency and weight gain. You can buy WFRP alone or with other buy-up level (additional) federal crop insurance policies. Many producers use direct-marketing methods to sell bison meat. Bison are much more nervous and excitable in close quarters, which are indicators of stress. “Agricultural Alternatives: Starting or Diversifying and Agricultural Business." A bison will try to kill you at a whim, and because they're such fit animals, he'll have a good chance of succeeding. Bison require no outside shelter and they will turn to face storms and may appear to become dormant during heavy snow fall. Costs and returns are often difficult to estimate in budget preparation because they are numerous and variable. Because bison are still considered a wild animal, you should plan a strong corral-chute system appropriate for your location and expected herd size. Because bison are still considered a wild animal, you should plan a strong corral-chute system appropriate for your location and expected herd size. Some producers even find a market for the hooves, bones, and hair. The cells outlined in red automatically calculate your revised totals based on the changes you made to the cells outlined in green. Today approximately 500,000 animals with the appearance of American bison exist in North America, but most of these are bison-cattle hybrids in private herds. You cannot raise cattle if you have nothing to feed them or no pasture for them to graze on. Get notified when we have news, courses, or events of interest to you. It is important to build contacts with other bison producers for the sale of breeding stock. As a precautionary measure, test and quarantine all new animals for three months before allowing them to enter the herd. Small herds, in particular, need make sure that they maintain genetic diversity in their herds. However, most Pennsylvania herds average only 16 animals. More information on the use of livestock budgets can be found in “Agricultural Alternatives: Budgeting for Agricultural Decision Making." Cull all but the best bulls, and bring new young bulls into the herd for breeding on a regular basis. The symbol used for non-amenable species is triangular in shape, which easily distinguishes it the traditional circular USDA symbols used for meat and poultry slaughter plants (Figure 1). Allow for the same amount of pasture per bison as is required for cattle in your area, usually 2 to 3 acres per cow and calf in the eastern United States. Major markets include wholesalers, restaurants, custom meat stores, and the general public through mail-order or on-farm sales. Because B. bison and B. taurus produce partially fertile hybrids, the 18th century French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707–1788) suggested that they should be treated as conspecific. As a rule, bison are no more difficult to raise than cattle. But bison are wild; they're energetic and aggressive. Bison are raised commercially for various markets: In Pennsylvania, bison are sold mainly for meat, byproducts, and breeding stock. For added weight gain and to improve meat texture and flavor, you should begin feeding grain 90 to 120 days prior to slaughtering. More information on farm liability risk and agricultural business insurance and be found in “Agricultural Alternatives: Understanding Agricultural Liability" and “Agricultural Alternatives: Agricultural Business Insurance.". “Bison may look like cows and graze like cows, but they should be treated as if they are cattle bulls,” says Harding. USDA ND6. The land on which you raise the bison cannot, however, be depreciated. Bison adapt to a wide range of environments, feed sources, and management systems. Frank Riegler, a rancher near Yellowstone, says, "You can't have livestock and buffalo. University Park: Penn State Extension, 2004. According to the USDA 2012 Census of Agriculture, nearly 60,000 bison are sold annually in the United States, and the USDA Meat, Poultry, and Egg Product Inspection Directory lists about 90 bison-processing facilities nationwide. With bison, you can’t. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. “With cattle you can cowboy. No. Second, check to see if there are multi-peril crop insurance programs available for your crop or livestock enterprises. Bison breeders must work hard to develop their own markets, but several marketing tools are available. Their instincts are too strong. There is evidence that shows this new breed of cattle is a lot easier to maintain and less costly to keep than a regular cattle … Pasture raised bison produce meat which has fewer omega-6 fatty acids and offer more omega-3. Bison adapt to a wide range of environments, feed sources, and management systems. Bison raised for agricultural purposes are currently in the same category as cattle under state and federal law, but they are slaughtered under the regulations for exotic animals. Bison continue to graze through the winter by rooting under the snow. Therefore, you should think of this budget as an approximation and then make appropriate adjustments in the “Your Estimate" column to reflect your specific production and resource situation. Bison, separable lean only, cooked, roasted. The Beefalo breed of cattle is a fairly new breed that was purposefully bred in order to cross the hardiness and ruggedness of Bison to the domestic temperament of the domestic cow. Contact a lawyer for clarification of local ordinances and regulations. Keep up with feeding and/or pasture management. You will also need workers' compensation insurance if you have any employees. Bison are not domesticated animals and require different handling than cattle and other livestock. However, individual crop insurance coverage is not available for all crops. The Beefalo breed, derived from backcrossing of this hybrid to cattle, was first marketed in the 1960s. You can’t push them on horseback. See All Pest, Disease and Weed Identification, See All Beer, Hard Cider, and Distilled Spirits, See All Community Planning and Engagement, Agricultural Alternatives: Agricultural Business Insurance, Agricultural Alternatives: Understanding Agricultural Liability, Budgeting for Agricultural Decision Making. For years Dan O’Brien raised cattle on his ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The meat is in high demand around restaurants around the world. 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