Bison from Farm to Table
One of our most enduring American images is that of the great American buffalo, or species Bison bison. These huge, shaggy animals once roamed from Canada to Mexico, grazing the Great Plains and mountain areas of our country. Bison were the center of life for the Plains tribes of Native Americans who found in them nearly all the food, clothing, and shelter they needed. Hunted for their furs in the 1600's and later for their tongues, bones, and meat, it was estimated by 1893 that there were only slightly more than 300 bison left, from numbers estimated at one time to be over 60 million. The following information is about this species which is making a comeback and growing rapidly in numbers.
What is bison?
The National Bison Association encourages the name bison to differentiate the American buffalo from the Asian Water buffalo and African Cape buffalo. The American buffalo is not a true buffalo. Its scientific name is bison and it belongs to the bovine family along with domestic cattle. The bison bull is the largest animal indigenous to North America. A bull can stand taller than 6 feet at the hump and weigh more than a ton. They are strong and aggressive, and can jump as well as deer, outmaneuver horses, and break through fences that would imprison other livestock.
" Beefalo" are 3/8 bison and 5/8 domestic cattle. (The natural result of a bison-domestic bovine cross breeding is a sterile offspring. It has taken years of research to develop this breed.) The advantages of this cross are fertility and easy calving. Beefalo gain weight well on inexpensive, high-roughage feed and are very hardy.
How are bison raised?
According to the most recent Census of Agriculture (in 2007), there were approximately 200,000 bison in the U.S., more than 25% of them in North and South Dakota. Unlike the older, tougher animals the Native Americans ate, today's bison are custom-fed and slaughtered at about 18 months, so the meat is as tender as beef. Some 20,000 buffalo are slaughtered each year (compared to approximately 125,000 cattle per day).
Bison are allowed to roam freely most of their lives. They are raised on the open range and eat hay or grass. They are usually given grain during the last 90 to 120 days before slaughter. (The fat of grass-fed animals is yellow, which is good since it contains beta-carotene; however, most consumers prefer the fat to be white.) Surplus buffalo bulls are selected at about 2 1/2 years of age (buffalo can live to be 40 years old) and spend a very short time in the feedlots.
Can hormones and antibiotics be used in bison raising?
Antibiotics and growth hormones are not given to bison.
How is bison inspected?
Bison may be inspected under voluntary federal inspection or FDA equivalent inspection. FDA equivalent inspection includes state inspection. Under voluntary federal inspection by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), businesses pay an hourly rate for inspection services. Voluntary inspection is handled under the Agriculture Marketing Act, which gives the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to take whatever steps are necessary to make the product marketable.
Federal inspection is done on a carcass-by-carcass basis by FSIS. The FSIS inspector must have knowledge about that particular species and the carcass must fit available equipment in the plant. Each bison and its internal organs are inspected for signs of disease. The triangle shaped "U.S. Inspected and Passed" seal ensures the bison is wholesome and free from disease. Note: Some states require all exotic animals be inspected in order to be sold in commerce.
Is bison graded?
How is bison different from beef?
Bison is a deeper red color before cooking because there is no marbling (white flecks of fat within the meat muscle). Bison is said to have a sweeter, richer flavor than beef and has less fat and fewer calories than beef.
According to USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS),100 grams of raw bison (separable lean only) contains 109 calories and 1.8 grams fat. The same amount of raw beef (separable lean o