The Great American Buffalo is not a true buffalo. Bison is its scientific name and it belongs to the bovine family of mammals, as do domestic cattle. The National Bison Association (NBA) encourages the use of the term "bison" to differentiate the American Buffalo from the Asian Water Buffalo and African Cape Buffalo.
The American Buffalo were the center of life on the Plains Indians, providing them with food, clothing, shelter and much of their culture. The American Buffalo roamed the plains in numbers so great the early European explorers could not count them, describing them as "numbers-numberless" and "the plains were black and appeared as if with motion." Estimates put the number of Bison at 40 million prior to the rapid decline in the middle to late 1800s.
The estimated number of American Buffalo alive at the turn of the 20th century was less than 1,000 animals in the US and Canada. The efforts of conservationists, producers and Native Americans saved the American Buffalo from extinction and they are no longer an endangered species. There are now more than 150,000 American Buffalo/Bison in public and private herds in the US and Canada.
The NBA was formed by the consolidation of the National Buffalo Association and the American Bison Association in January 1995. The NBA is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and production of the American Buffalo/Bison and has a diverse membership of producers, public herd managers, Native American tribes, meat purveyors and other interested parties.
Raising Bison is more than a hobby or a passing fad, it is a viable industry. There is a strong demand for Bison meat and by-products with prices that are consistently higher than cattle. Efficient feed utilization along with a superior Bison hardiness results in a lowered susceptibility to illness and death, thus reducing veterinary costs and providing a financial advantage to raising Bison.
Bison have a gestation period of 270-285 days and they usually produce one 40-50 pound cinnamon-colored calf. Bison cows can produce calves well into their 20s at a rate of one-per-year. One Bison bull can service 10-15 cows.
The demand from the general public for lean meat continues to grow and
Bison meat is ideally suited to satisfy part of that demand. The NBA estimates 15,000 Bison are slaughtered annually, producing 7.5 million pounds of meat.
Bison meat is not expected to replace beef, but it is an alternative red meat source for the enlightened consumer.
Buffalo/Bison - The Original Health Food
Buffalo has often been called the "original health food." It is significantly higher in protein than most other meat (including poultry and some kinds of fish), yet lower in calories, fat and cholesterol.
Buffalo has less than 50 calories per ounce, is 30 percent higher in protein than beef and has 37 milligrams (per 100 grams) less cholesterol than beef.
