- Commonly referred to as the American Plains Buffalo, once roamed
the entire North American Continent with their numbers estimated at
over 60 million.
- Bison generally produce one 40-50 pound calf at a rate of one per
year, with cows reproducing well into their 20's.
- A mature cow will, on average, weigh 1,000-1,200 pounds. A mature
bull will average 1,500-2,000 pounds. One Bison bull can service 10-15
cows.
- Bison with plenty of good pasture and water are generally content
and will stay put.
- Bison are more efficient feed converters than cattle and should do
very well with that ratio
- Bison are well adapted to life on the open grasslands.
- Their heavy coats protect them from both summer sun and winter winds.
- Their thick winter coat is so well insulated that snow can lie on
their backs without melting.
- They are strong, hardy beasts who suffer few diseases in the wild.
- Bison are unpredictable and can be very dangerous.
- They appear slow and docile but really are quite agile and can run
as fast as a horse; so don't try to out run one
- A bison's tail is often a handy warning flag. When it hangs down
and is switching naturally, the animal usually is unperturbed. If it
extends out straight and droops at the end he/she is becoming mildly
agitated. If the tail is sticking straight up, they are ready to charge
and you should be somewhere else....but do not run.
- Bison bulls weigh about 2,000 lbs and have heavy horns and a large
hump of muscle which supports their enormous head and thick skull.
- They have a thick mass of fur on their heads and a heavy cape of
fur even in summer. This enhances their size and protects them when
fighting.
- They are especially ill-tempered and roar and battle during the breeding
season from mid-July through August.
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