Anyone raise Bison?

I've read and have seen programs on Bison how they are good for you to eat. Anyone raise these and if so, what are the pros and cons compared to beef cattle?
They do need more room per animal and a stronger fence/higher but is there any other problems?
Different breeds - what to look for?

I buy buffalo sausage from a guy who raises them. Never thought to ask him how hard they are to raise. The sausage is fantastic!

Have any of you ever heard about a radio program called "Buffalo Dick's Radio Ranch"? I've never listened to it on the radio, but perhaps it might have some info.
Mr. Bob

I've got a customer who used to have some. They were pretty wild and hard to manage. You need GOOD fences for those critters.

One of my Dad's friends raised buffalo for many years. He had very high and very strong fences but then he was the kind of guy who over did everything. I'm talking fences 12' high! He said a full grown buffalo would bring itself down on a regular cow fence and, with it's belly, just flatten it. Otherwise, they're very healthy by nature and will take any amount of weather nature can dish out. He fed them big round bales. Don't ask me where he sold them. He had too many for local market. Normally, when we sell cattle for beef, we call a cattle trucker and off they go to Green Bay or Milwaukee or Chicago. Maybe he was able to sell into that market. Better check that out before you get into it.

Here around the Wooster Ohio area there is someone who has rasied them for many many years.
Then up a little north of here there is a butcher shop that also raises them and markets the meat. Since it is a business I'll post the phone number and you can call and see what you can find out. Whitefeather Meats 330-435-6300
I don't have any first hand knowledge of how they do it. But it seems to work for them.

Yes they need much better fence than cattle. Buffalo steak is excellent but VERY pricey.

Worked for a co. that raised and sold Bison. There are websites specific to raising and selling Bison.

If it was possible raising Deer would be easier. You have to educate people to sell the meat, and slightly different cooking techniques are needed. It's very similar to cooking Deer.

I bought a tractor back in the 90s from a guy who raised them. He was trying to get a large enough herd built up to supply a resturant. I don't know how he ever came out. There's a small herd south of here too. When all the mandatory TB testing was going on,the vet clinic that tested my cattle said the state was going to have to test those buffalo. They said they wouldn't touch them. I guess they'll go over anything that they can get their heads over.

The beefalo has the same health advantages over beef as buffalo/bison and easier to raise.
Some Beefalo Info Here

Sounds like best place for yout to start is National Bison Association.
http://www.bisoncentral.com
Then go talk to some producers.

My best friend and I looked into them in 80's. Bison people are among the most friendly and helpfull people you will meet.

There are two different strains of bison, plains and woods. Plains most common.

You looking at a 1200 lb animal that can run 40 mph, jump six feet, and can have the temperment of a ------ off mother in law. This especially true during rut season and calving season.

If they can get their head over the fence, it will come down. Quite a few producers put in high tensile fencing 10 to 12 feet high. Very expense fencing.

A herd will generally have a picking order, which is established starting at a young age. A calf will start pushing against you with it's head. If you push back, they will push harder, it is their way of establishing dominance. Know of one bison handler whose pet bison gored him doing this. Young calf's like to nibble on jeans also.

They can lift a tractor off the ground with their horns.

You will have to establish areas in your pasture you can get too to protect yourself, some producers build two walls of railroad ties, with a narrow walkway between them to run to in event of trouble. Also want to round off any corners in your pasture.

The are more diease resistant than cattle, and will use their hoofs to break ice to get at water, and use their heads to move snow to get at feed.

They are intelligent, one producer put in railroad rails over a pit at the entrance of his pasture. The bison looked at the rails, stepped on each rail and got out. He had to put rollers on the rails to keep them in.

Recently in Illinois, south of Chicago, a small herd got out by I-55. They wound up shooting them rather than trying to round them up and bringing them home.

Hope this helps, Jim

From my aunt Charlotte's book about coming to Oregon in 1843.
-----------------------------------
Crossing the Platte River.
We crossed on the fourth day of July and Peter H. Burnett who was later the first Governor of California crossed a few minutes later. I remember that because aunt Rachel, who had gone over some days before, had a big dinner all cooked and ready for us. Someone had killed a buffalo and aunt had a great pan of juicy steaks all broiled and piping hot. We were terribly hungry and after the steaks were eaten, we found that they had been broiled over buffalo "chips". Mrs. Burnett was not altogether happy about it. She even said that she would have "starved before she would have eaten anything cooked on them if she had known it". I guess that was not altogether true, for a few mornings later, the Hon. Peter H. was surprised when he had gone out about daylight to gather a good supply before other people were up. The boys said he was gathering them in a big white table cloth.

Walt

If your looking at raising bison because of how they look and low fat meat, consider looking at Scottish Highlanders. What I probably will go with once I get out of the city and back to my farm full time. Just a thought.

I know of a place that raises Elk. I don't know what they do with them though.

This was just a few miles from where I was raised. Dixie tole me a bit ago that we needed to run over there and pick some up for the weekend.
More Info Here

Seems like I remember reading somewhere that tarps were hung under the wagons. During the days travel people would pick up buffalo chips and pile them on the tarps for later use.

Yes,I do since 96.Contrary to some replies[by people that have no first hand experience] they are easy to manage and work with when you get to know how to handle them.I run a 150 bison cow/calf herd + the calf crop from the previous year all by myself.Only help I use is My son when I need to work them for tagging and such.I use a 5'high pagewire fence,barb wire or high tensile wire works ok as well.

Pro's IMO,Easy handling[if you know how],3/4 of feed requirement versus cattle[had the latter for 30 yrs].no bedding needed,less sickness,Need no assistance with calving,need no vacinations or meds[other than deworming].They dont waste hay like cattle do.You do not need a barn either.And they are VERY good eating.And the sale/meat price is very favourable right now.

Cons: you need a good sturdy corral and handling system,cause if they find a weak spot,the'll get out,same as cattle actually.
And you can not work them trough when they have young calves on them[winter is best].

You should get your FACTS straight.
a lot if it is plain BS and not true at all.

The Elk ranch close to here sells the horns when they are in the velvet stage. They are shipped to the Asian countries and are used by the men to keep the women happy---supposedly. LOL An old time niagra, huh?

I was at our local farmers market last saturday, and there was a guy there selling Buffalo meat. I told him I heard they were dangerous to handle, he made the comment it was like raiseing bears, dont know how serious he was, he had 125 or so.

It has never been proven that the beefalo is what he claims. Half beef and half bison-yes. But they are steral How ever you spell it, they can not reproduce. They are like the mule.

Bison what kind of a price do you get out of a mature animal?

I wish someone who knew how to cook buffalo would cook some for me sometime. I tried some once and it tasted like a 15 year old cow.

How do market all of your buffalo?

Gary

The only big cow calf operations I know of round here is the one the US forest serive has at LBL and a guy that has some on the side of the Purchase parkway right at edge of Benton. He just has some tall woven wire fence that you can see from the road.

Buddy of mine is an "animal jocky" has found some health nuts that like the meat. He buys a calf every year and keeps it in a small but stout pin in the back yard. Feeds it all the hay and corn he can eat and makes good money off him. He loads them in a stock trailer with a bucket of corn.

Good luck.

Dave

I know a guy who feeds some for slaughter. Loads, moves them, keeps them, and takes them to slaughter in pairs. Keep two together and they are manageable. Try to take one away for slaughter and the other one will tear the place down trying to get out. Big fight just to load one on a trailer.

Only the male offspring. Not the heifers.
Info Here

IaGary, price depends on when and what you sell.
here in canada long yearling bulls and heifers fetch around $1.20 to $1.25 lb on the hoof and slaughter ready 2 to 3yr olds get up to $2,75 hot hanging weight, yield is around 55% on a 900/1100 lb live animal There is not much of a market yet for breeding stock,but that is bound to change i hope.

I sell them by the truckload if possible.

the biggest mistake with cooking or frying bison meat is over cooking,rare or medium rare will leave it tender. if you like your meat done or well done then you'r better of to stick with beef

he told you a lot of BS