Raising bison
 

Has anyone done it? What were your experiences doing it? And for those who haven't raised buffalo, have you eaten it, and do you like it?

Are you sure you didn't miss the leading "B" in the word 'raising'.

They keep kicking a.. In football.

I've neither raised, nor braised, Bison. I've eaten it many times, though. It's good stuff, but too expensive to be part of any regular rotation in my home. Occasional bison burgers, and a bison prime rib roast every couple of years, is mostly how it's shaken out in the JPB household.

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Andre Rison.

Taste great.

Less filling.

Raising a few bison is on my bucket list.

Admit it, you just want to jack it off.

I would love to raise some bison. I bet raising any kind of livestock is more work than you think. Be awesome to do it though

Build strong high fences

Some friends of mine keep a really small hobby herd (they do slaughter out of it on occasion). They do some beefalo as well.

And as someone else said: good fences. And keep your ****ing dogs away from them. They'll stampede and trample the **** out of dogs.

Bison are mean. Local butcher in Amarillo told me when they are unloaded he shoots them in the head with his .44 mag as soon as they enter his chamber. He said they will absolutely kill you in a heartbeat.

That's because they haven't met your sweet caress yet,

There's a guy north of me that raises 100+ head. His fences aren't any taller than that used for cattle, though it is newer posts and barb wire.

I've had bison a fair bit given my location, and maybe I have an unsophisticated palate, but it just takes like drier beef to me. I like the taste of beef better, but get bison occasionally because I understand that it's lower fat.

When I do order bison, I be sure to use every part of it, because that's what the Indians taught us.

We're thinking about raising bison. We've had beef on our land for as long as we can remember. Bison are native to the prairie, and to be quite honest, I'm thinking that there is probably a better margin on them than the cattle since we rent out the land. Right now I think our land is being overgrazed since we have the water on four sections (not sure that is the right wording since a section of land is a specific measurement) of land that are connected. I'm sure the folks whose land is next to ours, but screw 'em, they can do raindances, otherwise the guy renting from us can pay a whole heck of a lot more rent. Aside from the money, I'd just rather have a healthy meat being raised on our land rather than some cows that are going to be injected with who knows what and fattened on grain. I'd rather do something that is better for the environment, better for people, and better for our pocketbook.

Them and some elk...a ranch like that would be heaven

When I eat bison burgers I become fartier.

Buffalo is pretty common around here as a healthy alteranitive to beef

I see tons of burger joints with a bison burger option


My favorite is Brody's burgers and brew on Cleveland ave...I think they call it the big sky burger

I get it when I'm hankering for a burger

Its ****ing deluxe

I am a little confused by your post. Does your family raise cattle now/recently or you rent the land to someone who does? Bison are more complicated to handle and relating to disease.

It's not as simple as just buying cows/ bison and turning them out as far as rent you can ask what you want but there are standard pasture rents for every state/ area. They aren't likely to just pay more. Also I am not sure of the state rule where you are but I am pretty sure the renter has to be notified you are canceling their lease by sept

CWD would be a concern as well I imagine

It's not popular with neighboring cattle producers. Brucellosis and other disease prone to buffalo and bison.

It's not like chickens you can just throw into your suburban back yard

My biggest concern would be handling them safely if you aren't experienced.

A section of land is equal to one square mile (640 acres)

I would also think there could be butchering done on site in some cases. I don't know how that works with the usda on a "alternative livestock". Do they allow local lockers to carry that I wonder?

This. They are ****ing wild. Strong ass wild cows. And they jump like bastards.

OK, well, a couple things here. If you as the landowner are responsible for fence maintenance, don't do it. It will take a significant capital outlay to get it ready for buffalo.

As far as the feedlot thing, unless they're marketing them as grass fed, there is a pretty good chance they end up at a feedlot being treated like beef cows (grain fed, antibiotics, medications for sickies). There was a feedlot down the road that did just that, and I believe it is a 30,000 head lot. Maybe they still feed them out there, I haven't been by there in awhile. So if you are wanting to do it for warm fuzziess, you may not gain anything.

As far as rent, you can call the ag-econ department at KSU and they can give you a rough estimation of what your grass is worth for free. They're pretty familiar with flinthills grass.

You can probably talk to your county extension agent for a visit to discuss overgrazing.

I'm not a livestock guy, but if you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

Pretty sure he's got his grass split into paddocks. I think that's what he's referring to.

I forgot to add about the food.

It's a leaner animal than beef cows but tastes similar. It's a little less forgiving cooking because of the leanness. I'd anticipate if they're finished on grass like you seem to want to, they'd get a little gamey.

These are things we are checking into. The actual rate has not been set for the upcoming year so that is negotiable. We are having someone come out to do an analysis of our land pretty soon. Average lease rates can be pretty skewed, however, by outliers.

You just KNOW that guy is ****ing that buffalo.

No, it's four sections. Ours and three others. The water for all four sections is on our land. One of the other sections may have a small well, but they can only get about 4-5 head in there at a time. That is probably about 800+ head of cattle that is winding up on our land when we should be looking at about 200-250 if we are supposing 3 acre/head.

There seems to be quite a range of opinion on what types of fence you need. I know it needs to be at least 6 ft high; can't quite figure out what it needs to be made of. Any idea on what should be used and how much ~7000 yards would cost? Some people seem to think you need a fortress, some seem to think you need next to nothing-reality is somwhere in between.

I run Angus cattle and I have been redoing all my fence with Redbrand 4 point barb wire..I use 6.5 ft tall steel post and hedge posts..4 steel then 1 hedge..I put 5 strands of wire on..depending on the area I use 6 strands..like my lots keeping cattle out of neighbors fields

With bison I would probably use the same equipment but move the steel post to wood post around 3 to 1..the wood post help keep the wire from getting stretched if they push on it..Redbrand wire has really good barbs on it so if it pokes them enough it should keep them from pushing too much

I would imagine that if the bison have enough food and nothing bothering them in the fields then I can't see them pushing to get out

Oh if you have the income to do it..look into high tensile fencing..it is smooth wire but half of the wires are electric..I have heard it is really good fence..kind of a pain to first learn but once figured out it is good shit

Hope this helps

Barbed wire rates in iowania are around $1.50/ft or near $2k/ 1/4 mile. Fencing isn't cheap. That is also a standard fencing rate and would increase if you go 6 barb and more if fence is taller or woven wire.

Relating to water I am not sure how that works in Kansas but it is my understanding that you cannot do things to remove water rights from neighbors. Example you couldn't divert or pond a stream if it took water away from downstream neighbors.


You didn't answer my question. Do you have livestock experience or does your family own land and you think it should be generating more income. Do you understand livestock and the associated work? Calving. Treatment of sickness, pinkeye, hoof rot, working them. Hay production, winter feeding etc? You have water. Is it heated or are you chopping ice every day of winter?

I like buffalo burgers and there was this meat shop in Montana that sold buffalo jerky and that stuff absolutely astounding.

I've done work on two different bison ranches. Both had normal barb-wire fences. The only ranch I've been on that had 6' fences was to contain elk.

I was going to say 6 foot 5 wire. I'd roll with macs suggestion. I'm not much for a livestock guy, but pay for good posts.

Penetration

Sounds to me like you should start with figuring out if you, or whoever "we" is, even own sole possession of the water source. Do the adjoining land owners have a lease or easement? Some of these were 99 year deals, some for the life of the holder, and many were even perpetual.

You mentioned rain earlier. If you're in an area of Kansas dependent upon rain, 3 head per acre might be a pipe dream. I'm assuming you own nothing, so at 3/head you're looking at over a half million in stock and probably closer to 3/4 million. If you can afford that, the fencing costs are just another check you put a pen to.

In general, you don't just start raising stock and you damn sure don't jump into buffalo without some serious growing pains. You're going to need some deep pockets as you buy your knowledge with **** ups and everything else that happens over the first 5 years of the adventure. DO NOT use current beef figures in hopes of that level being the new norm. We're at all time highs right now and that will no doubt cycle down in a few years as the system corrects itself.

Go to your local ag specialist or extension agent, he'll have the answers that pertain to your specific area.

Ate at Ted's Montana Grill during the 5 minutes it was open out at Legends. Had the pot roast. Good meal. Don't remember much except the bio-degradeable cellulose straws for the drinks

If you haven't already, take one stretch of your barb and put a single strand of high tensile in 6"-8" extended loop style holders and compare that stretch to the rest of it over the next two years. I even put these up on non owned pastures on my dime as a favor to the landowners. It saves a lot of my maintaining time and keeps thier fences in good shape and looking nice for years and years.

We built our first smooth wire over 20 years ago and people thought we were nuts when we did it but it has, by far, been the easiest and cheapest to maintain. Watching a deer run through it can be quite entertaining and the wires play a nice tune when it happens. LMAO

We figured it would be about $25K for the fencing. With regard to the water, we wouldn't be obstructing any water rights. The other three sections don't have the water. Period. That is why they are collecting rent on cattle that is never on their land and we are being overgrazed. The water doesn't run to their land. We don't have to worry about it running dry or freezing over. It was the only source of water in the area that didn't run dry during the dust bowl and it has never frozen over in the winter. It is so pure you can drink it straight from the source.

Our lack of experience with cattle is one of the reasons why we are considering bison; they are supposed to be easier to raise in terms of management. They are something that can be kept in the pasture year round. We are going to be talking to some bison ranchers in the near future around here. There are a couple of good operations nearby. After talking to them, I think we will have a better idea of whether or not this is something we want to undertake.

Thanks, good info.

First off I'd ask are set on buffalo? While I personally don't have much experience with buffalo my grandpa was experimenting with beefalo. This was back in the late 1960s. What he found out was you got the benefit of both breeds. The hardiness of a buffalo but the nice tender better cuts of meat the bovine offered. He also noticed easier calving with them as opposed to his regular red angus. You still get a leaner healthier cut of meat with beefalo that you're looking for with the buffalo. Just throwing this out there as maybe a cheaper start up alternative since your land is set up for cattle already.

For a period of time this cross really took off, but then it seemed to settle into a no mans land. You can't completely market it as being hippy loving healthy like you can buffalo to the almost organic crowd and the beef lovers just looked at you like, "why not just eat beef".

The people who really made it work went vertical on the system and bought into a restaurant and took it straight to the plate to collect the perceived premium. If I was going to do it, this is the system I'd build. Fill a restaurant on the left coast with a theme and pictures of what looks like an improved "all natural" environment and make them feel like they're doing the right thing for it, and their bodies, by eating your buffalo instead of beef. It would take a pretty serious investment and most likely a career long dedication to get it done, but the next generation could very well be rolling in cash by the time you got it done.

Point well taken ghak99 and agree. Honestly hadn't thought about that side of it.

I assume that the same tenant has cattle on the entire area if using water in a single section.

If you have no experience with livestock my advice is don't do this. Prices are very high, hay is expensive. To make a profit you have to save most every calf. If you had 40 acres and wanted to try 15 cow calf pairs I would say great, find a mentor to help get you going and let it rip . If you don't know what you are doing at this scale you will lose your ass

If you are getting into bison they are more dangerous than cattle. I say this as someone raised on a farm who has been in the hospital due to cow stomping and as someone who has taken my dad to the hospital with a broken leg after he called me laying in a snow bank. I watched my mother taken to the ground and her leg snapped and turned around and her head split open. Large animals are nothing to trifle with if you don't know how to handle them. Bison are more aggressive than cattle.

Cattle at all time highs make this a bad time to begin. If you start with young herds of heifers you will have difficult calving and lower success rates of breeding and mothering. Old cows prolapse and die. I can only assume Bison have similar herd issues.

Where will your hay come from? Do you raise it. or do you buy it. Do you have equipment? Tractors bail movers stabbeds? Bale rings and feeders? Working facilities? Will you use a vet to work your calves? Are you using hormones injections on your steers?


I just want you to think through the entire picture and consider commitments of time resources and funds.

I really appreciate this feedback and it is something I have asked for; I know enough to know that I don't know enough and wanted some feedback from this site because I know there is a wealth of knowledge here.

As for the hay, we have another 160 that I thought could be used to harvest hay. We'd have to pay for that, but it would be cheaper than buying it outright. I would just as soon hay the section and sell it, but the terrain and rocks kind of prohibit it.

This isn't something we would be planning on doing this upcoming season; we are just putting the feelers out right now and looking to see how viable it would be.

The wildness of the bison is something that really concerns me. I know how powerful animals can be; my father had (he's dead) a horseshoe shaped indention in this forehead from when he was kicked as a kid.

We are weighing our options right now. Nothing is set in stone.

Another option to consider.

Some people get started or lease their land on shares. Some people do livestock the same way. You trade the rental income for heifers of your choice. You provide the land and share expenses for s percentage of return or number of animals.

This gives you the advantage of someone who knows the business to handle it and saves them cash output and risk. If you get animals you can save the best heifers to breed and sell what you want to cover expenses or land taxes etc. might be an option to get started. You can help and learn the game.

I had buffalo chili in Colorado Springs once. Did not like.

Really? It's kind of hard to **** up buffalo chili. I love it.

Just WAY to rich for me.

It's certainly not a "daily fare" kind of thing.

My question is what are you wanting to do with the buffalo? Are you cow calling them and selling the feeders? Or are you wanting to finish them all the way out on your grass? The feeding requirements are different. If your other 160 is just grass, I doubt it will have enough protein to feed critters out. If you're going to do it you better budget to buy all your hay and put up your stuff and get a test on it.

I know everybody says it, but buffalo are not easier to work with than cattle. Most Cattle are pretty docile unless you corner them or jack with their babies. Buffalo are just wild. Wildness has been bred out of cattle since freaking Egypt. Buffalo have been for 150 or so years. Everything about working with them is hard. There maybe a premium but you earn it.

I've never raised bison but I hear they are a bit less hardy than cattle. IIRC, Bison get diseases more easily and succumb to the elements a bit easier. Is it a significant difference? I have no clue.

Also, I don't think Bison are as domesticated as cattle. They can get pretty mean when you approach them, while you can lean up on a steer.

Bison ranches aren't uncommon so how hard can it be?

Good luck with that.

And yeah, bison meat is wonderful. I really can't tell it much different from steer meat but they say it has less fat so you have to undercook it a bit. All I know is every bison I've had from ribs to steak to burgers has been delicious.

Bison, will walk through anything, big and will kill you. Brother-inlaw chased them several times a month, no thanks.

That is something we were definitely considering. I should of pointed that out at the beginning. I wouldn't be running the bison.