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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. What is the difference between Bison and Buffalo?
- A. The animal that we've come to know and love in the United States as the buffalo is the same as the Bison. People refer to them as both names. Bison is the scientific name for Buffalo. The analogy that works best is the difference between Poultry & Chicken.
- Q. What do Bison eat?
- A. Bison have a fairly simple diet. The Bison's main food is grass. Bison also eat the low-lying shrubbery that is available. In the winter, Bison forage in the snow looking for grass. If there is little grass available, Bison have to resort to eating the twigs of shrubs.
- Q. What is the temperament of Bison?
- A. The Bison's temperament is often unpredictable. They usually appear peaceful, unconcerned, even lazy, yet they may attack anything, often without warning or apparent reason. They can move at speeds of up to 35 mph (56 km/h) and cover long distances at a lumbering gallop. The American Bison is the largest land animal in North America. Males can stand six feet from hoof to shoulder and weigh between 1000-2000 pounds. Females are around five feet tall and weigh between 800-1000 pounds.
- Q. What is the nutritional difference between ground beef vs. Bison?
- A. Bison is naturally leaner compared to beef and has a lot of nutritional values that exceed those of its bovine cousin. Ounce per ounce, Bison has less total fat than most meat products including pork, chicken and most fish. Bison also has less calories and higher amounts of iron than most meat products. Beef is also high in saturated fats with 6 grams, which is double the amount found in grass fed Bison.
- Q. Are Bison endangered?
- A. The American plains Bison is no longer listed as endangered, but the wood Bison is on the endangered species list in Canada. BodyByBison only purchases its Bison from American Bison ranches. Legal protection of Bison, the establishment of preserves and individual ranches raising animals on their own have restored the Bison to greater than 350,000 animals. The largest public herd is in Yellowstone National Park - roughly 4,500 animals. In the U.S. there are approximately 4,500 private ranches and farms raising Bison.
- Q. Where does BodyByBison get their Bison meat?
- A. BodyByBison purchases its inventory from ranches in the Great Plains that are members of the National Bison Association who do not use any hormones, chemicals or steroids. Most Bison ranchers are also noted as being environmental stewards – sustainable farming being of paramount importance to them. As a result, eating Bison has become another way for people to “go green.”
- Q. Does Bison taste different than ground beef?
- A. There’s a bit of a misconception that Bison meats have a gamey taste. Bison meats have a similar taste to select choices of beef, but generally have a slightly sweeter flavor than beef. You can definitely tell the difference between a Bison burger and a regular beef burger immediately. Bison meat has a wonderful velvety texture. The closest comparison is the quality of a good chopped steak which has a less gritty texture than standard ground beef.
- Helpful Links
***References: Wikipedia, North Fork Bison, North American Bison COOP, National Bison Association
