Overview

No other mammal has a closer historical tie to the development of North America than its largest land animal, the bison, also commonly known as the buffalo. Once a prominent fixture on the vast plains of the United States and Canada, bison have survived over-harvesting and near extinction. Their numbers dipped as low as 1,000 head by 1900 but have since recovered. Today, they can be found in all 50 states, in every Canadian province and in several countries overseas.
 
Nearly 95 percent of these bison were raised in private herds. In the United States, bison herds account for nearly 200,000 head on 4,500 farms and ranches (2007 Census of Agriculture). Canadian producers add an additional 200,000 head to the North American herd. The balance is part of a Native American herd, lives on public lands (for example, Yellowstone National Park with 3,500 wild, free-ranging bison) or resides in zoos and reserves. (For more information about Native American herds, which number close to 15,000 buffalo, see the InterTribal Bison Cooperative website.)  June 2012 ... Bison


Marketing

• Bison, Livestock Slaughter Annual Summary, National Ag Statistics Service (NASS), USDA.
• Bison Centre, Bison Producers of Alberta - Information on bison and bison ranching in Canada and the United States. Contains articles, news, events, links, bison ranch listings, free classifieds, health, recipes, cooking tips and more.
• Bison Revival Fuels a Tourist Sensation, Market to Market, Iowa Public Television, 2009 - Though small by historical standards, today’s herd of buffalo is making a comeback.
• Canadian Bison Association - Website for bison producers as well as people interested in learning more about bison.
• Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA, 2010.
• Monthly Bison Report (Carcass & Cuts), Ag Marketing Service (AMS), USDA.
• National Bison Association - Nonprofit association that promotes the preservation, production and marketing of bison. Association activities and services serve to better inform and educate members and the general public about bison.

Production

• Bison, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ontario, Canada, 2007.
• Bison on the comeback trail, Statistics Canada, 2008 - In 2006 the Canadian bison herd totaled 195,728 head.
• Focus on Bison, Meat Preparation, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA, 2003 - Safe storage, handling and preparing of bison.
• Bison Husbandry, Rutgers University, 1999.
• Bison Producers' Handbook, A 250-page comprehensive book covering all aspects of bison marketing and production.
• Bison Production, Livestock Production Guide, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT, 2001 - Production guide covers regulations for bison production, bison meat inspection and processing, marketing, feeding, pastures and fencing, handling and transportation, and links to additional references.
• Food Safety of Farm-Raised Game, FSIS, USDA, 2006 - Venison, antelope, boar and other exotic species are now farm raised in the United States. These animals are under voluntary USDA inspection.
• Growing & Finishing Bison, Bison Producers of Alberta.
• Handbook of Bison Production, University of Alberta, Canada - This handbook outlines the aspects of producing bison in today's marketplace.  
• Planning for Bison Grazing on Native Rangeland, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA, 2002.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Bison co-op helping Native Americans develop production, marketing strategy; Rural Cooperatives magazine; USDA; 2008 - The Intertribal Bison Cooperative is a nonprofit tribal organization committed to restoring buffalo herds to Indian nations.
• Buffalo Ranching, America's Heartland, RFD TV - L.C. Ratchford of Arkansas has an unusual ranch with unusual
  livestock--buffalo.
• 4M Bison Farm Naturally, Ripon, Wisconsin.
• Great Range Brand Bison & Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, Denver, Colorado.
• InterTribal Bison Cooperative - This organization now has 57 tribal members in 19 states. Between them, they oversee close to 15,000 buffalo..
• Straight Arrow Bison Ranch: Nutritional Meat Raised on a Family Farm, Center for Applied Rural Innovation, University of Nebraska, 2002 - A Nebraska couple raises 60 bison for fun and profit. This case study explores the challenges they've faced as they began their business venture.
• Tarbox Hollow: A Home on the Range, Center for Rural Affairs, 2002 - An alternative product, buffalo; alternative marketing; and clear goals helped these Nebraska farmers come back to the home farm to take care of their parents, restore the prairie and build a profitable, growing agricultural enterprise.

Links checked June 2012.