Bison are a symbol of the American west, with their strong spirit, tough hide, and desire for wide open spaces. I believe they are much more than a symbol to our great nation, and have proved to be hardy and versatile wherever they roam. Bison production for human consumption is rapidly on the rise, and I think it's important that we better understand this unique industry. When I decided to work on a commercial bison ranch this summer, I grew anxious about having to deal with what many consider to be wild animals. It wasn't long after I began working daily with them that I realized if handled properly, bison are not so wild after all. The largest misconceptions and harsh judgement that bison producers receive from others, are due to either lack of experience or education about this species.
Growing up in the cattle industry, there were several key differences in the demeanor of bison that I noticed quickly. Bison have very strong herd instincts, therefore they rarely isolate themselves. When moving these animals, we put our momentum and energy into the middle of the herd, the outsiders will fall into place due to their desire to be within the herd. Unlike cattle, you don't have many "run aways", and if you do it is often due to unclear movement by the handler. This can prove to be very helpful in some situations, but it can also be dangerous at times if you do not know this. If a bison is ill or simply separated from the rest of the herd, they become frightened and their instincts motivate them to join their companions. This can mean downed fences, or worse injured animals, therefore it is important that although bison are domestic, that you also understand and work with their strong prey instincts. Twenty five years ago bison facilities were built rock solid with thousands of feet of metal, tall and ominous against the plains. However, upon working with top animal handlers and understanding the different instincts that bison have compared to cattle, this preconceived idea that bison need these things, has been debunked. It is now recommended that ranchers use electric fencing at or above eye level with the animal for permanent fencing. Bison can be trained to be very respectful of hot fences, if they are put at the correct height to detour adult animals from jumping and calves from crawling under the fence. Additionally, improvements made in the understanding of bison instincts have allowed for leaps and bounds in their handling. Modern bison facilities are much smaller than those pictured here, because ranches have modernized their handling techniques and worked hard to create a positive atmosphere for the bison during handling. Bison prefer to walk into the wind, and something as simple as wind direction can change the speed and course of the move that day. It is amazing how sensitive they are to your movements, the simple direction of wind, or changes in light such as shadows near gates. Despite their strong prey instincts, we were able to gain their trust to do some truly amazing moves. We moved 300 heifers across a small wooden bridge with just three riders, a few men on the ground and a feed truck for some tasty motivation. This was one of my favorite moves because it took extreme focus on everyone's part to be able to achieve such a task. Once we were able to complete this move, I knew that I would only continue to grow in my stockmanship if I continued to work with the instincts of whatever animal species I am working with. In order to write this blog article, I enlisted the help of my ranch manager this summer, Aaron Paulson. Aaron is the present Montana Bison Association President and on top of general misunderstandings regarding the temperament of the American Bison, he also felt it was important to address the concerns that many cattle producers have on the topic of Brucellosis. A common misconception around the Greater Yellowstone Area is that brucellosis is a bison disease." Aaron went on to epxplain, "Originally brucellosis was brought to America from European cattle. Wild bison and wild elk were infected, and the disease was nearly eradicated, then the government program was disbanded. Beginning in the early 1900’s brucellosis prevalence grew and became a problem in elk and wild bison. Nowadays wild bison are confined within Yellowstone Park and a few designated areas outside the park. However, elk move through a very large region in and around Yellowstone Park. As domestic bison and cattle are frequently tested for brucellosis, there is occasional transmission from wild elk to domestic livestock. Epidemiologists are able to verify the source of the infection, and in each case it is from wild elk to domestic bison or domestic cattle - Not from bison to cattle. The Montana Department of Livestock has created a Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) that mandates frequent testing and ensures that the interstate commerce of domestic livestock is protected through herd health testing protocols. This protects not only the livestock around the DSA but the security for receiving states and maintains viable livestock commerce." Therefore, bison are not responsible for direct transfer of this disease and should be considered a true added value livestock animal due to their hardiness, different grazing patterns that can increase forage use efficiency, and high quality meat. I may not have worked on a ranch that raised beef this summer, however this experience was humbling and crucial to my appreciation of those who work hard each day to feed a growing world. Whether it be bison or beef burgers, one thing is for certain. We continue to provide the United States and the world with the safest food supply, and I know we will continue to do so. My heart may be with the beef industry, however I now have a deep understanding of the smaller livestock industries in our country that are just as important.
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AuthorThis is a blog to share many stories, laughs, adventures and lessons learned by yours truly, Haley Potter. Archives
July 2023
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