Industry officials say the sector is starting to recover after struggling with two drought years and the COVID-19 pandemic
The Canadian bison industry has been through difficult times the last few years but is emerging from the doldrums, according to Manitoba Bison Association president Robert Johnson.
“Between the two drought years and the COVID-19 pandemic, then high feed prices, probably the last two years have been pretty crappy for bison prices,” he explained.
Johnson pointed to the hard work the commercial marketers have undertaken to help overcome those tough years. He said they not only promote the meat but also the environmental and sustainability aspects of the bison industry.
Read Also
Canada-U.S. trade relationship called complex
Trade issues existed long before U.S. president Donald Trump and his on-again, off-again tariffs came along, said panelists at a policy summit last month.
“Everyone is more and more aware that there are bison raised in North America and (the meat) is a lot more readily available than it has ever been,” he said, noting most of the major supermarket chains in the country carry bison products.
“We have emerged from bison being a kind of seasonal meat product to where it’s becoming more mainstream and readily available year-round,” Johnson added.
He said bison meat was considered seasonal because that’s when the animals were usually auctioned — during the fall and winter months. Today, bison are sold at online auctions or through private sales.
“Our market is very, very small compared to the beef industry or anything like that,” Johnson said, so often it’s two people haggling their way to a fair price or watching an online auction.
“The bison business is a relationship business. There are people with good relationships with the producers and with people who are buying to feed or to background,” he continued, noting the online sales have proven to be a boon to the industry.
Current calf prices are about $1,200 to $1,500 and cows go for $2 to $2.50 per pound, maybe up to $2.75, according to Johnson.
“It’s definitely getting to the point where the cow-calf maybe seeing some profitability after a couple of poor years,” he said.
Also, there are few facilities that process bison meat. One is in Colorado and the other is in New Rockford, North Dakota. The latter, Johnson said, is the only dedicated bison plant in North America.
“The animals shipped down there are processed and packaged, then shipped back into Canada,” he explained, noting the plants pay about US$4.25 per lb. for males and $3.90 for heifers.
A prime 30-month-old bull would likely weigh about 1,200 lb. or more, of which it would yield a little more than 60 percent meat, Johnson said.
“There’s quite a bit of value in these animals,” he added.
Be it selling calves or bison up to 30 months, Johnson said it takes a fair bit of “inventory management.” Calving season usually runs from mid-April to early June, so an older bison born now would not be sold until 2025. Then animals are grouped by weight.
Along with the Canadian Bison Association, there are six provincial associations from British Columbia east to Quebec. In the United States, there is the National Bison Association plus 15 state or regional associations.
