A herd of bison that escaped from a farm in the Tisdale, Sask., area is still at large one week later. The animals appear to have moved away from the Highway 35 area, where they were sighted several times last weekend. Estimates have placed their numbers as high as 100. Local bison producer Lonnie Bulmer […] Read more
Tag Archives Bison
Mycoplasma bovis more likely in large herds
Researchers found bison farms in Alberta were 22 times more likely to have the disease than those in other provinces
A study to determine the prevalence of mycoplasma bovis in bison has found two clusters in Alberta and on the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border over the past five years. Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and University of Calgary’s veterinary schools have been examining the disease, which has devastated individual bison herds, particularly in Alberta. Ana Bras […] Read more
Bison handling facilities get smarter, safer
Systems should be designed to minimize stress and allow the animal to be processed quickly
Handling bison is always a challenge, but doing it with agitated animals in a poorly designed system can be dangerous, and perhaps even deadly. That was one of the messages delivered last week during the first International Symposium on Bison Health. The symposium, held June 24-26 in Saskatoon, attracted bison producers and veterinary experts from […] Read more
Bison weighed on the way to watering hole or feeder
Putting animals through a chute can cause stress, leading to weight loss
PENHOLD, Alta. — A new low-stress bison weigh scale trial has already proven successful, says one of the project organizers. The scale allows bison to be weighed simply by walking to water or eating at a mineral feeder. “We’re quite encouraged by the bison walking over the weigh scale in a non-stressful way,” said Jayson […] Read more
Rough cuts test culinary students
RED DEER — A recent recipe creation challenge was the first exposure to cooking bison for many of the participating apprentice chefs. To make it more interesting, the third year Red Deer College students weren’t given a fine rib eye or a New York cut steak to grill. Instead, they were given their choice of […] Read more
Happy producers pay more at auction
Bison prices soar | Two-year-old bulls average $8,612 at Agribition sale
Bison sale averages soared at the Canadian National Show and Sale held during Canadian Western Agribition last week. They reflected the good health of the industry and mood of producers. Average prices were up over last year with two-year-old bulls averaging $8,612 compared to $2,913 last year. Yearling bulls averaged $5,787, up from $2,150, and […] Read more
Bison producer details grazing strategy
Corn, grass, oats | Producer says there are new high yielding grazing corn varieties available
PONOKA, Alta. — Cattle aren’t the only animals that benefit from rotational grazing in the summer and grazing corn in the winter. Improved pasture and grazing management also increases bison weight gain at reduced cost, said a northern Alberta bison manager. Brian Olfert, manager of Adam Ranch Bison, said he successfully grazes 450 bison cows […] Read more
Bison may roam once again in Banff National Park
Native species missing | Visitors will see and learn about Plains bison
Canadian bison producers are among those who support a proposal to see a wild, free-roaming herd of bison introduced in Banff National Park. Parks Canada released a draft plan earlier this month that proposes to introduce 30 to 50 Plains bison in less-travelled regions of the park. Public input into the plan is invited until […] Read more
Red tape a nightmare in bringing bison to island
Disease concerns, jurisdiction debate | Government departments debate whether to classify bison as wildlife or cattle
Michelle Young hopes she is nearly over the last hurdle as she tries to establish the first bison herd in Newfoundland and Labrador. Last week, she was waiting to hear if the province’s wildlife department wanted her to build an eight-foot game fence or if she could use a high-tensile electric fence. Once that decision […] Read moreLack of steady supply stymies bison
PONOKA, Alta. — As the owner of one of Edmonton’s oldest restaurants, Normand Campbell knows food. He knows that when bison is on the menu in his high-end Normand’s restaurant, it sells. Wild meat makes up 30 percent of food sales in the French restaurant year round and increases to 50 percent in October and […] Read more
