Bison Management
Through the efforts of various organizations and agencies, the American buffalo, or bison, which by 1890 was threatened with extinction, has been preserved and its numbers increased until there are now about 200,000 in North American. Of these about 25,000 are in public herds and more than 180,000 are on private ranches in the United States and Canada. Annual production of buffalo calves in public herds has been large enough to necessitate periodic reduction of herd size to avoid overgrazing. Excess animals are usually sold live and can serve to start or augment other herds.
The suggestions contained in the document will be helpful in the management of buffalo herds, both on private lands and on public game preserves and refuges. This information has resulted largely from many years of experience and study on National Wildlife Refuges.
Enclosures
Buffalo, like most other big-game animals, thrive best where not closely confined. Large, open, grass pastures with a plentiful supply of clean, fresh water are best for their needs. Although shade may not be an absolute survival requirement, when shade is available bison herds may spend many midsummer hours in it. Also, the presence of trees or large rocks adds to their well-being by providing rubbing and scratching sites.
Fences for confining buffalo should be strongly constructed. Minimum recommended fencing consists of 47 inch (style#1047-6-11 or #1047-6-9) woven wire set about 10 inches above ground level and extending to the top of 7 foot heavy duty posts spaced no more than one rod apart. Under normal conditions, buffalo are not likely to test the fence very severely, but when excited, they may charge blindly into it and then even the strongest fences may fail.
Corrals and chutes should be made of planks or heavy poles so the animals can readily see them and tend to avoid them. Such fences also obscure the view of activities outside the corral and thus reduce disturbance of bison. Plank corrals are easy for a man to climb, a distinct advantage when he is seeking escape from excited animals. Modern corrals are also being built of pipe or steel. When bison can see out, they frequently try to get out. Covering pipe corrals with plywood panels discourages them from crashing against corrals and protects them from injury. The National Bison Range=s new corrals use highway guard rail instead of planks.
Due to the added strength and vigor of bison, extra heavy duty scales and squeeze chutes are required for handling them.
Barbed wire should not be used in buffalo fences. The barbs are ineffective in deterring the animals from attempting to escape and are a source of injury and infection. The range should be kept free of all loose wire, nails, etc. to prevent injury or infection. Ropes should not be used around the neck of buffalo because the windpipe is easily crushed by such a restraint.
Regardless of the extent of handling and of apparent domestication, buffalo are dangerous wild animals of uncertain temperament and should never be trusted. Supposedly tame animals have attacked owners caught off guard. Buffalo are not suitable for pets or mascots.
Forage Requirements
The foraging habitats of buffalo are similar to those of cattle. The short grass prairie grasses, consisting primarily of buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides) and grama grasses (Bouteloua gracilis and B. hirsuta) provide excellent pasturage. These grasses appear to be preferred to the taller and coarser species. On northern ranges tall grass such as wheat grass (Agropyron spp.), bluestem (Andropogon spp.), bluegrass (Poa spp.), and the smaller fescues (Festuca spp.) are generally preferred. Tame grasses also provide good pasturage for them.
Since buffalo are more selective in utilization of grasses, and because of their habit of compact herding, portions of their range may become denuded, thereby necessitating a reduced rate of use. Buffalo normally weigh slightly more than domestic cattle of equivalent age, and require proportionately larger amounts of forage to compensate for this difference. Where conditions permit, rotating pastures will result in better utilization of the forage with less danger of depleting the cover and less likely-hood of contaminating the ground. Unlike cattle, bison make and use wallows. These heavily used sand or clay pits are usually bare of vegetation and produce little forage.
In most parts of the United States buffalo may be ranged throughout the winter without supplemental feeding or artificial shelters, provided adequate natural forage is available. When it is necessary to feed buffalo for special reasons, they readily consume hay and concentrated feed of the same kinds used for domestic cattle. Quantities required would be comparable to that used for cattle of the same weight.
Mineral Requirements
To insure proper development, buffalo need salt and other minerals in their diet. Many of these are supplied in their forage, but on pasture soil deficient in essential minerals the forage likewise will be lacking in them. These deficiencies can be relieved by supplemental mineral compounds that are prepared for cattle. The salt requirement varies with the composition of the forage consumed, but generally buffalo will use as much salt as cattle.
Growth and Development
Normally, buffalo calves are born during April, May, or June, although births have been recorded in all months. Newborn calves are reddish in color, and retain this natal coat until about three months of age, when it is replaced by the dark brown coat of the adult. The calves weigh between 20 and 70 pounds at birth. They grow rapidly and within one year may weigh from 400 to 600 pounds. Two-year-old animals may weigh up to about 1100 pounds. The cows continue to increase in weight until six or seven years of age, occasionally reaching a weight of 1100 pounds. The bulls increase in weight until nine or 10 years of age and very large bulls may weigh more than 2000 pounds. The average weight of mature bulls is about 1600 pounds.
Buffalo cows ordinarily mate when they are two years old and bear their first calves when three years old. Instances of 2-year-old heifers producing a calf have been recorded, but are not common. Calves are usually born singly. Cases of multiple births are extremely rare. Cows bear a calf nearly every year if the forage and nutritional requirements are met. They retain their fecundity to rather advanced ages: cows 26 years old have been known to produce strong, well-developed young. The gestation period is between 270 and 280 days. Cows are very protective of their calves and can be very dangerous.
Bulls reach active breeding age at about three years and remain fertile for many years. Though viable, young bulls often cannot compete with mature bulls until they have attained more size a t six to eight years of age. The breeding season normally occurs during July and August but under artificial conditions induced by confinement and semi-domestication, individuals may breed during all seasons. Mature bulls are even more difficult and dangerous to handle during the rutting period than at other times.
Buffalo normally maintain their weight and vigor to about 12 or 15 years of age. Bulls have an average life span of about 18 or 19 years. Cows are known to have lived 30 years or more with enough vigor to bear calves well into the twenties.
Sound management of bison usually consists of proper fencing and handling facilities, good range management with rotational grazing and weed control, plus population and disease control. Vaccination and/or testing programs for various cattle diseases such as brucellosis and tuberculosis are now appropriate. Many breeders are also testing for genetic diversity to maintain the gene pool of this once endangered animal.
For further information on commercial bison raising, contact the National Bison Association, 4701 Marion Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80216, (303) 292-2833, fax (303) 292-2564.
