1. The American Bison: America’s Icon
Kayla Oberg

2. Introduction I refuse to be completely sarcastic and cynical.
Why bison?
Scientific name: Bison bison

3. History Evolution Overpopulation?
Main food source for Native Americans
On the brink of extinction

4. History cont’d. Almost extinct Making a comeback
Government refused to help
Only 2 wild herds in existence today

5. Anatomy How they look: Dark brown, shaggy Short legs
Calves are light brown/tan
Coarse outer hair, with soft/fine undercoat

6. Anatomy cont’d. They’re huge! Up to 6 feet tall Up to 2,000 pounds
Males vs. females

7. Diet Bison are herbivores grazing mainly on grasses
When grasses aren’t available, they eat twigs and shrubbery
Efficient grazers
Grass finished vs. Grain finished

8. Breeding/Management

9. Land Use Land required to raise bison vs. land needed for beef
Love thy neighbor
Running water (stream, river, creek) is recommended to prevent erosion and pollution
Should still have wallowing space
The best pasture…
King of the hill
Saving the land
Grazing cushion

10. Production Quality control
USDA and FDA forbid the use of hormones and artificial growth stimulants
The National Bison Association’s (NBA) Code of Ethics also forbids the use of chemicals in bison
The North American Bison Cooperative (NABC) processes most of the nation’s bison meat. This has not barred small operations from being very successful
The NABC also has very strict rules and regulations on the quality of the meat
Earned stamp of approval from the USDA and also the European Union (EU)

11. Technology There are no “franken-bison”
No need for much new technology with strict ban on chemicals and hormones
Main concern: microbial control
Just one problem: the meat has a short shelf life
This can be fixed naturally

12. Economic Factors Just like any other small business or farm
The bison industry is small-farm-friendly
No corporations, monopolies, or giant feedlots

13. Health & Safety No chemicals, no pesticides, no hormones
There is no giant collection of manure because there are no giant feedlots.
Only danger is in the processing (sharp blades, heavy machinery)
That is, unless you count handling a 2,000 pound bison dangerous…

14. Environmental Impacts
Bison are incredibly sustainable.
With no feedlots, there is not much waste produced to contaminate water
Bison need less pasture than cattle, prime pasture land is that which cannot be used for anything else
Don’t require as “prime” of land as cattle (efficient grazers)
Main problem: erosion

15. Health Benefits Bison meat is much healthier than beef
Leaner with almost no marbling
Even healthier if grass finished

16. Health Benefits cont’d.

17. Native American Culture and Bison
Bison have always played a major role in the Native American culture
Involved in most creation stories
Corn creation story
White bison calf is an omen for a time of peace and prosperity

18. Transnational Market?
There really isn’t a global market for bison meat yet
Kept mostly in the U.S.
Small amounts shipped to Europe by private ranchers
Europe is starting their own small-scale bison industry.

19. Organic and Sustainable?
Organic? Absolutely!
Sustainable? Of course!