Raising Bison???

Bellyman · #21 12/10/14, 02:03 AM

I like the taste of bison way more than beef. I don't get it all that often as it's not nearly as available as beef. And I think I understand why by reading through the comments above.

To each their own.

CajunSunshine · #22 12/10/14, 03:28 AM

This is a certified fact:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paumon

Heh. An old friend who used to raise bison in the BC interior plateau many years ago told me that bison are living sherman tanks with very bad tempers and short fuses. Plan accordingly and good luck with that.

I can't help but wonder if maybe your friend is either extremely lucky, or has weird bison, or his “time” has not yet come.

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerDale

My friend keeps them in a 5 wire regular barb fence! Most that do it, use more of a game fence. My friend has had them since 1982, and has done well enough.

Once upon a time, I almost became a bison rancher. Fortunately I did not. As part of my research, I joined the American Bison Association, and remained an active member for one year. During that time, I learned enough hard facts to steer me far away from the idea.

Although there were no members in my immediate area, I still learned a lot from them. The members were quite vocal in the monthly magazine and newsletter, and expressed what it was like to manage this noble beast. The most common complaint was the dangerous challenge of containing and handling the animals, and how difficult it was to arrive at a satisfactory solution.

I remember how more than a few of the members related in detail, about how EXPEN$IVE it was to maintain even the smallest operation. Secure fencing was one of the biggest complaints. Some members reported only a few problems, but more than a few reported living nightmares. It seemed that even the most durable and robust types of fencing will not contain a goal-oriented animal that is determined to escape. Where more than one animal was involved, herd mentality can prevail over ANY confinement. One member jokingly threatened to erect a concrete wall. Another member chimed in and said he already did, and it did not work. The animals thundered straight into the wall, killing some and others climbed out, over the backs of the dead...

Oy.

Some members related how for years, nothing “bad” had ever happened, then suddenly...something would snap, and for seemingly no reason, the animals would thunder out of their pasture, no matter what was in the way. I'm sure there had to be reasons behind each case, be it a mama spooked by some real or imagined threat, or some other herd triggering event.

The horror stories (and the bison association member's frustrated pleas for solutions) that were published in the newsletter was enough to convince me to be content with videos and pictures, not the real deal.

The newsletter was a wonderful idea exchange among hundreds of members in every aspect of bison ranching. I am just grateful that the association was honest enough to actually publish the good, bad and ugly. (This was almost 30 years ago, before the age of widely accessible internet forums which are more transparent than the printed page was back then.)

Point being, I could not see investing a crapload of cash on something so dangerous and unpredictable. What a shaky liability issue! There are better investments out there.

When I need to get my bison “fix”, I watch the movie Dances with Wolves, while snuggling up in my luxurious buffalo robe. It works.

.

COWS · #23 12/10/14, 06:59 AM

A relative has a neighbor that tried bison and crossbreeding them. One big shortcoming in addition to the ones mentioned here is that they don't produce calves as often as cows do, don't know the exact figures but seems like it was at least 2 years apart.

COWS

farmerDale · #24 12/10/14, 08:17 AM

Interesting stories. It seems either you stick with them, and have success, or try them and run away. Part of the initial interest by would be ranchers, was also that breeding stock was valued so highly. Once the market changed from breeding stock to meat, many could no longer compete, or found it was not worth the effort, so quit.

Like ostrich, emu, wild boar, etc. it started as a sort of fad.

jassytoo · #25 12/10/14, 08:40 AM

We have two places near us that raise buffalo. Neither one seems to have anything spectacular in the way of fencing. Barb wire and electric from what I can see. The meat seems to be popular though. They sell out very quickly.

Cygnet · #26 12/10/14, 10:30 AM

I like the taste of bison, but I also like the taste of grass fed beef and elk.

To the OP, you might look into raising elk, if it's allowed in your area. About the same expense on of fencing required -- bit taller, bit less sturdy, probably works out the same in the end. Less aggressive, though I wouldn't want to get within striking range of those front feet. Yearly income from antlers, and the meat sells for a premium. Elk hide makes nice leather, but I'm not sure if there's really any significant market for it. Wolves might eat a few, but elk have a mighty nasty kick and they're pretty fast.

wr · #27 12/10/14, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerDale

Yeah, I know what you mean, but there aren't any Canadian content sites like this great one. I would be waiting three days for a reply, or maybe a year!!! lol. This way, I can talk bison right from my cozy couch...I want to look at my friends operation, we have never been there, just know each other from church, and he is a fair bit older with no kids etc. so we just haven't hooked up in that way yet. I only found out recently they farmed bison.

My friend who has them cautioned me because we run sheep, and the bison pick up something from the sheep and die, apparently. He lost several his first year from that.

The land in question is 16 miles from home, which he said would be far enough away. It has about 110 acres of woods, 20 of water, and about 30 of grasslands. The woodlands have a lot of little meadows in them, and would make such a nice bison pasture. Too many bears and wolves and coyotes for sheep or cattle, esp. so far from home. Bison would fare much better with less hands on protection, etc.

A trucker friend hauled bison a few times. said you had to RUN IN BEHIND THE LAST ANIMALS LOADED, AND SHUT THE INNER GATES!!!! He said it was not fun at all, because once they realize they are trapped, they all turn around and start running at the gate. One slip and you are done for. He also said a couple times he had to drop a rope over a bulls head from above, so it could be towed off the trailer , otherwise it wouldn't budge.

I have no delusions, they are not like any other stock that could be raised.

From what I have found out, my land could probably handle a dozen to 20 cows. The nice thing about them, is they do not need very good hay. My friend uses poor grass hay. No grain. Stockpiled grass. Their metabolism during winter actually goes down by 20 to 40%. In other words, while cattle eat more during the cold weather, the bison eat way less than they do in summer, which is kind of cool.

I would set out a bunch of bales in late fall and graze them through the paddocks in a bale grazing scenario to limit babysitting.

My biggest concern, is the handling. I am kind of a chicken that way. They would have to be phenomenal, and safe...

Right now, a bred cow is only about 2000 bucks, so much cheaper than cows. Where you make money is on low labor and low feed costs, along with usually higher per lb meat prices than cattle.

I also thought a person may be able to sell the odd hunt to one of the many American or European bird hunters who come up here every fall.

Skulls, hides, etc., all have good value too.

Just a bunch of thoughts. The land would be easy to get certified organic as well, and so there is probably some value added to be had there.

Keep chatting, I find them a fascinating creature!

If you're seriously considering them, you should also consider the scratchers so you can collect the underfur because it's coveted by knitters.

I've worked with them and they can be miserable to deal with. The old adage about things going great as long as things are going a bison's way is true but as a rule, they will follow a feed truck anywhere so most guys lure them with feed rather than trying to herd them.

I can't think of any restrictions or certifications required but I do know that a lot of serious breeders do dehorn their bulls simply to minimize damage when they fight, which reduces the value of the big skulls.

They don't require a lot of work but you do have to pay attention in areas where buffalo have historically lived because they are prone to anthrax and it does live in the soil. Otherwise they do thrive on marginal quality hay & grass that might not be ideal for cattle.

You are correct about needing specialized handling facilities and it can be costly but once in a while you can find them at farm auctions.

Bellyman · #28 12/10/14, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnet

I like the taste of bison, but I also like the taste of grass fed beef and elk.

To the OP, you might look into raising elk, if it's allowed in your area. About the same expense on of fencing required -- bit taller, bit less sturdy, probably works out the same in the end. Less aggressive, though I wouldn't want to get within striking range of those front feet. Yearly income from antlers, and the meat sells for a premium. Elk hide makes nice leather, but I'm not sure if there's really any significant market for it. Wolves might eat a few, but elk have a mighty nasty kick and they're pretty fast.

Cygnet, you did nudge my memory a bit when you mentioned grass fed beef.

For most of my life, I had a slight dislike for most of the beef I had tasted. Just didn't care for it. But a year or so ago, I had my first grass fed, grass finished beef. I really liked it!! I've since had, on several occasions, some of the typical corn fed feedlot type beef and my opinion of it has not changed, still don't like it. There is a difference. And maybe that hints at why I tend to like bison (?), not sure how they're fed or if they're more left on their own to eat as they choose.

So to the OP, if bison turns out to be more than you want to tangle with, maybe some good pastures for some grass fed beef might be another option to think about. (?)

Cabin Boy · #29 12/10/14, 02:53 PM

Three of my cousins started raising elk and bison in western MT around 1981. The elk operation didn't last long - just five or six years. I guess the regulations were extremely burdensome. But one of them has continued to raise bison since that time. I believe he has a few hundred head. I don't know all the details and haven't talked to him about it in years but he's been at it now for over thirty years. It's seems like it's been a good investment for him - but again, I don't know all the nitty gritty.

Paumon · #30 12/10/14, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wr

If you're seriously considering them, you should also consider the scratchers so you can collect the underfur because it's coveted by knitters.

I can understand why it's coveted by knitters, it is so soft and warm but has to be some of the most durable and water & dirt resistant wool I've ever seen. 40 years ago my mother made matching Cowichan Sweater coats for my husband and me, knitted from thick bison wool. My husband's coat was worn every day of every winter and it out-lived him. I still have both of our sweater coats and they both pretty much look as good today as they did 40 years ago.

willowworker · #31 12/10/14, 03:59 PM

Haven't read entire thread. There are several bison farms in Minnesota. They are all on-line. Just google Mn bison farmers or somethinng similar. I have had my DD clients out to a local one near here. These were semi-tame...we could scratch their ears occasionally. I love bison, but it is expensive...do buy it occasionally. I think you should go for it.

farmerDale · #32 12/10/14, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bellyman

Cygnet, you did nudge my memory a bit when you mentioned grass fed beef.

For most of my life, I had a slight dislike for most of the beef I had tasted. Just didn't care for it. But a year or so ago, I had my first grass fed, grass finished beef. I really liked it!! I've since had, on several occasions, some of the typical corn fed feedlot type beef and my opinion of it has not changed, still don't like it. There is a difference. And maybe that hints at why I tend to like bison (?), not sure how they're fed or if they're more left on their own to eat as they choose.

So to the OP, if bison turns out to be more than you want to tangle with, maybe some good pastures for some grass fed beef might be another option to think about. (?)

If I had a single cent for all the ideas and dreams I have for my farm, I would still be broke, but I would be able to afford a decent pair of socks...

I do have a certain fear factor, a healthy one.

The thing that is so appealing about bison, is their ability to do well on rough ground, and not need to be fed big time all winter, with the feed cows up here need. They also need no winter water set up. I don't know another form of stock that slows their metabolism down that much in winter, or which needs LOWER protein feed at 40 below. Cows need babysitting relatively. I would need to bring them home every fall, and we are already raising sheep so it doesn't fit in our plans right now. I know what you mean about a grass fed niche. We are trying to do this with lamb.

There are bison feedlots, not sure the exact ration, though in Canada I am sure barley would be the base. There is an outfit that comes around each fall, and picks up your bison calves from that year, or yearlings or whatever. Then the feed them up, or market them as grass fed. If I only produced say a dozen calves a year, I would likely just sell by word of mouth and double the going regular market price, which seems what generally happens for the red meat market out there.

Maybe do a U-hunt kind of thing? 500 bucks (2000 for american duck hunters!) for the hunt, plus pay me for the meat, or leave the meat for me to process and market?

The other thing, is right now bred beef cows, if they have any blood pressure at all, are selling for 3-4 thousand. There are bred young bison cows for sale right now fairly nearby for 2000. The difference in say 15 animals would pay for a lot of bison fence!

farmerDale · #33 12/10/14, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willowworker

Haven't read entire thread. There are several bison farms in Minnesota. They are all on-line. Just google Mn bison farmers or somethinng similar. I have had my DD clients out to a local one near here. These were semi-tame...we could scratch their ears occasionally. I love bison, but it is expensive...do buy it occasionally. I think you should go for it.

Ha, we were at a sort of a private zoo with the kids a few years back, and the guy had this tame bison bull. I was a bit nervous at first, but he WANTED to be pet. It was crazy for a bison.

What is your bison meat market relative to beef right now? Up here it was 50% higher, until recently with the cattle markets going nuts...

So, I should go for it! lol, I want to on one hand, on the other hand, I am a very conservative guy, and it has historically held me back from taking plunges. Been a great discussion!

It comes down to, if it were easy, we all know who would be doing it. Everyone, huh?

willowworker · #34 12/10/14, 08:40 PM

farmerDale...How true. If I hadn't been so hesitant during my life I would have tried a couple things that I decided not to try. It kept me on a living check to check basis. However, even doing that I managed to raise my kids after a divorce, pay my home off, own nothing on my car, and have no major debt. However, I want to retire because of health probs and cannot because of lack of $$$. I won't take out $$ against my home.

SO, I have decided to take a leap of faith and am working on a project that hopefully will allow me to stop having to work those last 2 days at work. I am a gal with health issues, am just a few months shy of 70, and am scared to take this step. But I am going to do it!...because I enjoy it and because I want to!

Take your opportunity now and raise those bison. What can you loose...some hard work??? LOL If you start out with a couple, if nothing else, you could eat them.

If I were closer to you I would buy bison meat from you if you sold it buy the cut. Occasionally I buy it from the local CO-OP in Duluth, but it is quite expensive...close to your 50% mark. If I could afford to I would buy a half, but I cannot find anyone to go halves with me.

Go for it, and enjoy the journey it places you on.

arcticow · #35 12/10/14, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerDale

Yeah, I know what you mean, but there aren't any Canadian content sites like this great one. I would be waiting three days for a reply, or maybe a year!!! lol. This way, I can talk bison right from my cozy couch...I want to look at my friends operation, we have never been there, just know each other from church, and he is a fair bit older with no kids etc. so we just haven't hooked up in that way yet. I only found out recently they farmed bison.

My friend who has them cautioned me because we run sheep, and the bison pick up something from the sheep and die, apparently. He lost several his first year from that.

The land in question is 16 miles from home, which he said would be far enough away. It has about 110 acres of woods, 20 of water, and about 30 of grasslands. The woodlands have a lot of little meadows in them, and would make such a nice bison pasture. Too many bears and wolves and coyotes for sheep or cattle, esp. so far from home. Bison would fare much better with less hands on protection, etc.

A trucker friend hauled bison a few times. said you had to RUN IN BEHIND THE LAST ANIMALS LOADED, AND SHUT THE INNER GATES!!!! He said it was not fun at all, because once they realize they are trapped, they all turn around and start running at the gate. One slip and you are done for. He also said a couple times he had to drop a rope over a bulls head from above, so it could be towed off the trailer , otherwise it wouldn't budge.

I have no delusions, they are not like any other stock that could be raised.

From what I have found out, my land could probably handle a dozen to 20 cows. The nice thing about them, is they do not need very good hay. My friend uses poor grass hay. No grain. Stockpiled grass. Their metabolism during winter actually goes down by 20 to 40%. In other words, while cattle eat more during the cold weather, the bison eat way less than they do in summer, which is kind of cool.

I would set out a bunch of bales in late fall and graze them through the paddocks in a bale grazing scenario to limit babysitting.

My biggest concern, is the handling. I am kind of a chicken that way. They would have to be phenomenal, and safe...

Right now, a bred cow is only about 2000 bucks, so much cheaper than cows. Where you make money is on low labor and low feed costs, along with usually higher per lb meat prices than cattle.

I also thought a person may be able to sell the odd hunt to one of the many American or European bird hunters who come up here every fall.

Skulls, hides, etc., all have good value too.

Just a bunch of thoughts. The land would be easy to get certified organic as well, and so there is probably some value added to be had there.

Keep chatting, I find them a fascinating creature!

Dale, neighbors in AK had 'em... Six wire barb wire fence, STOUT pens... The more you're around 'em the more they seem to accept handling, but they have their own ideas about things... Sorta like mules, if it's their idea, things work smoother...

sewtlm · #36 12/10/14, 08:49 PM

You must have more than one. They will go through fences
until they find a herd.

3acres · #37 12/10/14, 09:33 PM

I'm enjoying reading all this! I've kicked around owning buffalo on a tiny scale. I've never been around them. I have raised and hauled bucking bulls until getting into this lifestyle. All my bulls were huge pets and just awesome to be around. I miss training them to be that way. I would love the challenge of managing buffalo, sounds like it would be a lot harder. Maybe someday. I'm anxious to here what you decide to do!