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Only preliminary work has begun. Bison ranching exists in Virginia (e.g., Riner and Paintbank, Va.) A file is available. See notes in Vermejo file and Bison Group.
woodland bison">Woodland bison note, University of Georgia
Biology and comments on Bison, bison ranching, etc. The following inserts are from the Wildlife Society list serve 4/13/1999
Subject: Re: Grazing and wildlife management
Bison ranching
In California, bison ranching is for hobby ranchers (i.e., those who make a living doing something else). I'm told there's even less profit in bison ranching than in cattle ranching. Although more ecological preserves are trying to bring back native grazers, others need the income from grazing leases to help meet the costs of operating and maintaining the preserve.
Personally, I think it's possible to make a profit restoring native ecosystems to provide the public a view of what our country used to look like. This is attractive to the history buffs as well as the wildlife watchers, but requires good communication and marketing skills in addition to ecological/biological expertise. Sadly, many biologists lack the skills to pull this off (in my opinion, the REAL reason biologists don't get no respect). Maybe Disney or Warner Bros. will take up the challenge!! Karen
* Karen J Brown, Environmental Specialist III
* California Department of Water Resources
* 3374 East Shields Avenue, Room B19
* Fresno, California 93726
* Phone (559)230-3330 Fax (559)230-3301
* karenb@water.ca.gov
Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 11:52:08 -0500
From: Brent L Brock <blbrock@KSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: Grazing & wildlife management
On Tue, 13 Apr 1999, Karen J. Brown wrote:
Bison ranching
In California, bison ranching is for hobby ranchers (i.e. those who make a living doing something else). I'm told there's even less profit in bison ranching than in cattle ranching.
This is interesting because in the West and Midwest bison ranching seems to have become an economically viable industry. I've been told by those familiar with the market that bison prices are more stable than cattle and demand is greater than supply. This agrees with local experience where a locally-owned bison ranch has been expanding their operation tremendously over the past decade and a local restaurant that specializes in bison dishes has difficulty keeping the finer cuts available. However, startup costs associated with switching from a cattle to bison operation along with tradition will probably keep many ranchers out of the bison business.
Still, I see bison ranching as an economically viable alternative to cattle ranching but it isn't always the best solution from an ecological or practical standpoint. Those interested in a good basis for this decision making process should see:
Plumb GE, Dodd JL. 1993. Foraging ecology of bison and cattle on a mixed prairie: Implications for natural area management. Ecological Applications 3: 631-643.
Brent L. Brock, Kansas State University
Another Possible contact:Jkoloszar@tnctexas.org who was interested in ancient population conditions. The following references were suggested by Stoss in 1999:
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