Midwest Buffalo Company and New Beginnings Ranch are pre-selling breeding rights to our White Buffalo Bull “OUTLAW.” We are also taking deposits, in order received and in advance, of Outlaw’s white buffalo calves. If you want a great chance at a white buffalo baby, a spiritual awakening for many and financial booster for your operation for sure, make your reservation now.
To book your buffalo cow for our breeding option with Outlaw—contact us for details.
Midwest Buffalo Company and New Beginnings Ranch are pre-selling breeding rights to their White Buffalo Bull “OUTLAW.”
Outlaw, our White Buffalo Bull, came to us from the fantastic Comstock Family of Mudd Creek Farm and we are excited to have him bring such joy to our tours, spiritual awakening for our local and nearby Native Americans, and boost our business in so many ways.
Book your animals now in order to not miss out. Our bloodlines have produced an amazing white buffalo in the past and soon again with Outlaw our White Buffalo Bull—the next one could be yours. However, you must book your animals in advance.
Our herd has been developed and improved from the best bloodlines available. Our foundation animals came from Custer State Park, Romanik Ranch, National Bison Association Gold Trophy Show & Sale and Sprik Farms. We have continued to add and improve our blood lines through our semen tested bulls from Custer State Park, and improved our genetic diversity by constantly up scaling the quality of our herd through the addition of new blood lines from Ken-Mar Buffalo Ranch, Cook Bison, along with the retention of our own top heifers for breeding and herd expansion.
Calves available November/December. All animals are fully wormed and vaccinated and available for transport. Each animal has a colored numeric dangle tag identifying the year born and unique animal ID along with a RFID tag for easy recognition. We can provide hauling services as well. All animals are located on our main breeding ranch in Cheboygan, Michigan. Contact Kevin MacRitchie 313-580-6776; 313-580-6776, kevinmacritchie@gmail.com. Michigan Bison Association Trading Post. https://www.michiganbisonassociation.org/index.php/the-trading-post.
North American bison producers and marketers have worked diligently during the past two decades to build a strong relationship with their customers based upon the great taste and nutritional benefits of the meat, along with sustainable practices utilized in raising the animals. During the past few years, water buffalo products have entered the U.S. marketplace and been marketed simply as “buffalo.” See our fact sheet on Water Buffalo’s very misleading labeling.
Deceptive marketing: The packaging and labeling on this one-pound package of ground “Wild Ground Buffalo—Free Range” is designed to lead consumers to believe that the product is American bison. It is, in fact, water buffalo, according to the National Bison Association.
One example is the one-lb. package of ground “Wild Ground Buffalo –Free Range” being marketed in an East Coast retail chain. The packaging and labeling are deliberately designed to lead consumers to believe that the product is American bison, when it is, in fact, water buffalo.The water buffalois being brought into the United States as whole muscle meat and reprocessed in a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved facility, but is not being processed under USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) voluntary inspection. USDA regulations require any water buffalo processed under its inspections services to be properly and fully labeled. Because water buffalo is classified as a nonamenable species under federal law, it is not required to undergo inspection if that meat is produced in an FDA approved facility. However federal regulations also prohibit the labeling of food in a manner that “is a false or misleading representation with respect to another food.”*This mislabeled product is spreading beyond the retail marketplace. Water Buffalo meat is also being distributed to food service outlets as well. It’s important that the customers in your dining, or retail establishments get what they are ordering.
Water buffalo processed without USDA and state-equivalent inspection carries potential risk for customers, and for food service establishments. That National Bison Association has filed a formal complaint to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to enforce this regulatory requirement for honest labeling.
We will continue to work aggressively with federal regulators, and to fully inform the American public of mislabeled products in the marketplace until there is full enforcement of rules to prevent consumers by being buffaloed when seeking bison meat for their families. Don’t lose customers over mislabeled product. Be sure that you are serving your guests 100% North American bison. National Bison Association, Westminster, CO. wwwBisonCentral.com; Tel 303-292-2833.
For over a century, Parks Canada has been leading the charge to restore wild bison in Canada.
One of its first ventures was the display buffalo herd placed in a small 300-acre paddock near Banff in 1885.
Canada’s oldest national park—Banff National Park—is near the mountain resort of Banff and Lake Louise.
Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. Above the tree line—at about 2,300 m (7,500 ft)—the rugged mountains here are primarily rocks and ice. Rivers cut through deep canyons. Photo courtesy of Brandon Jean.
The scenery is spectacular, with rugged mountains rising on every side. The tree line is at about 2,134 m (7,000 ft), and above this is mostly rocks and ice.
Unlike other western mountain towns that focused on mining or agriculture, Banff was built as a tourist destination from the beginning. Planners for the Canadian Pacific Railroad built across Canada in 1885, discovered hot springs there and pronounced it tourist-worthy. The original Chalet Lake Louise was built on the lake shore in 1890.
At the time there were no roads. Only the transcontinental railway, towering Canadian Rockies, glaciers and rushing mountain rivers.
Now three to four million visitors come to the Banff area every year.
Thirteen of the early buffalo there were donated from the Bedson herd by Sir Donald A. Smith, Lord Strathcona, purchased from Samuel Bedson, warden of the prison near Winnipeg.
They originated with James McKay of Winnipeg, who rescued calves during Metis hunts in the western plains of Canada. Three more—two cows and a bull—were donated by Charles Goodnight from his Texas herd.
Buffalo were kept for over 100 years in a small enclosure near the railroad. Until 1997 the buffalo herd was a popular tourist attraction.
But it had served its purpose. It was time to move on.
The dream was always for free-roaming buffalo in the backcountry of Banff National Park, as in prehistoric days when they were hunted by indigenes people.
“Homecoming to Banff” planned
Twenty years went by before the 5-year restoration plan was ready.
The historic “Homecoming to Banff” was planned as a high-tech, scientific experiment producing a wealth of detailed research data.
One of the first questions Parks Canada personnel asked was: How do you get Plains buffalo to bond to a Rocky Mountain home?
Seasoned buffalo handlers were in agreement: Buffalo cows from the plains need to calve in the mountains before they will accept it as home. Otherwise, any self-respecting buffalo herd will travel until they reach a place they like—breaking down fences and trampling crops as needed to get there.
Cattle ranchers voiced concerns that buffalo would escape, damage property and spread disease to livestock. In response, the planners included a hazing zone, recapturing, and as a last resort destroying the animals. If they detect disease they agreed to cull the herd.
Goals of reintroduction
The reintroduction of bison to Banff brings back a keystone species that will:
• Support ecological integrity;
• Contribute to bison conservation since plains bison are only protected in three herds in less than 0.5% of their original range in Canada;
• Reconnect indigenous peoples and bison; and
• Create new opportunities for visitors and Canadians to learn about the ecological and cultural importance of bison.
Year 1 and 2 (2017-2018) involved a soft-release in Banff National Park.
The soft-release plan includes bringing young pregnant cows with a few bulls to a desirable, but remote, mountain valley in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, where they’d give birth to their first calves under the watchful eyes of biologists.
Carefully selected, the young herd came from the disease-free, extensively-tested and vaccinated herd at Elk Island National Park, which is just east of Edmonton, Alberta, in the Great Plains.
They were to be held for “summer vacation” in a small enclosed pasture in remote Panther Valley and fed hay that first winter. The following spring they calved a second year in the small “soft release” pasture of their new home. Gradually fences and barriers were moved giving access to an increasingly larger area.
Years 3 to 5 (2018-2022) the herd will at last be free to range—free-roaming it’s called. They will range through the east part of the park where they will continue to live year around from then on in a wild state. The barriers are let down between the initial area to the Red Deer and Cascade Rivers expansion. A larger “Hazing Zone”
The rangers at Parks Canada brought it all together just in time to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary year.
On April 25th, 2017, they loaded 16 buffalo—12 two-year-old females and four two-year-old bulls—into shipping containers on trucks in Elk Island National Park and trucked them to Banff National Park.
There each shipping container—containing three or four husky buffalo—was picked up by helicopter and, dangling through mountain valleys by a metal cable, called a longline, was airlifted to their new soft release pasture in the Panther River valley.
There in grassy river bottom lands the shipping containers were dropped gently down at the edge of the forest.
Parks Canada personnel opened the containers and the buffalo burst out on the run.
It was a remarkable moment as the buffalo charged into the verdant green mountain valley, looked around and began eating.
Ten healthy bison calves were born in the soft release area of Banff National Park’s remote backcountry before the end of May.
The new calves brought the herd number to 26. They mingled with the herd, napping in the sun, running and playing together.
In July, the soon-to-be-wild herd was moved from their 6-hectare winter pasture into a 12-hectare (30 acre) summer pasture, which includes tasty mountain grass, instead of the dry hay they are used to.
They drank from a clear, flowing river, instead of a cattle trough, and for the first time ever faced mountains to climb and explore.
This was a big change for these young animals. There is no running water or steep hills to climb in the safe plains pasture where they grew up in Elk Island National Park.
These new arrivals represent the future of buffalo restoration in Banff. They are part of the larger vision to reintroduce wild bison, and their gradual introduction to the park will help this herd anchor to the landscape and adopt it as their new home.
The Parks Canada team is committed to involving the public in the buffalo reintroduction effort. A well-considered, illustrated blog provides students and adults with fascinating details.
People throughout the world are being urged:
“Follow the herd from home! See what life is like for the calves by watching our new webisode on YouTube. Share it with your friends and family on social media.”
Herd dynamics—Cliques, leaders and rebels
“The herd arrived in Panther Valley in early February, and they’re settling into their new home. Part of that process is figuring out who’s who in the herd. We’ve been keeping a close eye on them and starting to notice personalities starting to form.
“In the past few weeks, Cow #12 has caught our attention. She’s normally the first cow to feed which could be a sign that she’s becoming a leader in the group. This is pretty exciting because bison tend to organize themselves into matriarchal societies. They are normally led by older females who know the way to the best food and watering holes.”
The soft-release bison pasture is located in one of the most remote parts of the park in Panther Valley. It takes two days to get there on foot, ski or horseback from any direction.
Members of the Bison team take turns staying in a nearby cabin. They feed hay, monitor health and track each of the bison. Other tasks include chopping wood, wildlife observations, care of horses and checking remote cameras.
Blogging: Spring 2018
“On a chilly week in March our team of veterinarians and conservation specialists flew to the bison paddock in the remote Panther Valley of Banff National Park to start a big task: radio collaring the adult female bison and giving ear tag transmitters to their calves.
“May 6, 2018. Buffalo are already shaping the landscape. Called keystone species, or ‘ecological engineers,’ they alter the ecosystem around them and benefit a huge number of other creatures, just by their natural behavior.
“Expected benefits of grazing buffalo:
• More forest openings for meadow-loving birds and other small mammals.
• Well-fertilized grass for other grazers like elk and deer.
• More seasonal wetland habitat for amphibians due to bison wallows filling with water.
• A new food source for a community of creatures including bears, wolves, ravens, and coyotes.
“Horseback riders gently push the buffalo to help them explore key grazing area of their new home range. In April our core bison team travelled to Montana to get more practice in using the technique called ‘natural stockmanship,’ a low-stress approach to interacting with herd animals, like bison.”
In Montana they worked with experienced cowboys who handle over 1,000 buffalo, moving them periodically between pastures. The Banff team hit the road to practice low-stress handling skills they’d need to guide their own small buffalo herd to areas of good grazing.
Meanwhile the animals remained in the smaller enclosure until summer, when the gates would open.
“July 23, 2018. First two of new crop of calves have arrived. Bison calves are born with bright reddish fur – giving them the nickname of “little reds.” After a few months, they start to look more like the chocolate brown of their parents.
“This is the herd’s second calving season in the soft-release pasture, and it’s one of the main ways we’re helping them bond to their new home range. Bison tend to return to the same areas to calve each spring. By holding them for two calving seasons in the heart of the reintroduction zone, we hope that the herd will adopt this area as their annual calving ground.
“August 2, 2018. Bison have returned to the backcountry of Banff National Park. For the past year and a half, Parks Canada has cared for the animals as they adapted to their new home in Panther Valley in a remote area of Banff National Park. They were held in a soft-release pasture to anchor them to the location and help prepare them for their new life in the mountains.
“Now, the bison are ready for the next phase: free-roaming. We released the herd from the soft-release pasture and bison are now free to roam a 1200 sq km reintroduction zone in Banff’s eastern slopes. They will start to fulfill their role in the ecosystem as a “keystone species,” by creating a vibrant mosaic of habitats that benefits bugs to birds to bears, and hundreds of other species.
“We will use GPS collars to track their movements across the landscape and their interactions with other native species. Over time, we hope to learn how bison integrate into the ecosystem and understand their impact on the surrounding landscape.
“At the end of the pilot project in 2022, we will evaluate the success of the project and determine the future of bison restoration in Banff.
“On July 29, 2018, we opened the fence of the soft-release pasture and released the herd to roam the 1200 sq km reintroduction area in Banff’s eastern slopes.
“We spent 1.5 years helping these animals learn to adapt to their new home. Now the tables have turned, and we have started to learn from them. They are already teaching us new things about what it means to be a mountain bison.
“On release day, we opened the gate around noon and waited for the bison to find the opening. And we waited. And finally, around midnight, we captured the herd on camera crossing the fence-line and moving through the release corridor we built for them.
“The next morning, we awoke to find the soft-release pasture empty. Bison had finally found their freedom. We sent our team into the field to monitor the herd using telemetry to trace their radio collar signals. When we picked up their signals, we were surprised with what we found.
“Instead of following the valley bottom like we expected, the herd travelled and stayed high on the mountainsides, grazing and bedding in the uppermost fingers of vegetation that edge into the rocky slopes. We watched as they dipped down to the creek for a drink and then returned up the slope to bed down. Two pregnant cows then climbed even higher to an alpine lake where they gave birth to the first wild calves born to the free-roaming herd—bringing the herd to 33 animals. Two other cows with newborns summited a nearby ridge overlooking the soft-release pasture.
“This is a new experience for these bison, as they have never lived without fences. They are learning their new boundaries, getting their first views of the landscape before them, and testing their mountain legs.
“The vast majority of the herd seem content within 6 km of the initial release site, while a few bulls have ventured into a nearby valley and one bison bull has left the core reintroduction area and is currently on Province of Alberta lands just east of the national park. We continue to follow his movements closely, and may try to capture him if this walkabout takes him further east.
“Almost a month after the release of 31 bison into Banff’s backcountry, the majority of the herd has remained within 15 kilometers of the release site.
“However, two bulls ventured eastward well beyond the park boundary and were within a day’s walk from private lands. Our reintroduction plan and commitments to provincial stakeholders, promised that we would keep bison out of these areas.
“We considered capture and relocation for the first bull, but concluded that it was not feasible due to several factors including:
• The speed at which the bull was moving east,
• The main herd was also travelling northeast into challenging terrain where hazing efforts would be less effective—we needed to focus resources on managing the main herd,
• Wildfires limited the availability of helicopters able to capture and transport an animal as big as a bison, while thick smoke reduced visibility, and
• We had to consider potential risks to the bison team in attempting to immobilize and move bison under these constraints.
“In the end, we made the tough decision to euthanize this first bull.
“Fortunately, several days later, we were able to successfully capture and relocate the second bull, to a temporary home in Waterton Lakes National Park. This was a very challenging operation that involved a contracted capture team netting the bison from a helicopter.
“We then immobilized it, and rolled it into a custom built bison-bag that allowed us to sling the immobilized bison under a large helicopter without compromising its airway, just long enough to lift it into a nearby horse trailer for transport.
“Decisions to relocate or destroy an animal are difficult for our team and are made only after we have considered all other options. These two bulls were determined to travel eastward past any obstacles in their way, and they taught us a lot. We have modified our herding techniques and have expanded some strategic drift fencing.
“September 27, 2018. The herd is currently doing well and staying high on the mountainsides to forage on fresh vegetation and stay out of reach of biting flies.
“Since we released the herd, at least 4 more calves have been born in the wild! The herd now consists of 10 adult females, 4 adult bulls, 10 yearlings, and now 9 calves, totaling 33 animals. These bison appear to be settling into their new home and all animals are within the core reintroduction area.
“The main herd has spent most of their time in the Snow Creek Valley following their release into the wild. They have been grazing, bedding and raising their calves at high alpine lakes and on mountain slopes in one of the most spectacular areas in Banff’s backcountry.
“We want to help them discover key areas in their new range so they will be aware of seasonal grazing opportunities throughout the reintroduction zone. One place we wanted to show the herd is the Lower Panther Valley—a landscape of rolling meadows that is snow-free most of the year and offers some of the best fall and winter grazing in the area.
“The team used the low-stress skills learned from the Montana cowboys, with a combination of staff on foot, horseback and helicopter to gently herd the animals south toward the Panther Valley.
“On September 4th, we successfully encouraged the herd to calmly walk about 15 km southwards; eventually ending up right back where they started—in the soft-release pasture.
“It was an incredible sight to see 27 bison walking single file along ridges, edging along talus slopes and winding through willows in the valley bottom.”
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Next: Part 2. Return of Wild Buffalo to Banff National Park
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Letter Outlines Specific Action To Assist Producers Impacted by COVID-19 WESTMINSTER, CO (April 16, 2020) – National and North Dakota bison leaders today hailed the work of North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring for weighing in with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue with specific policy recommendations to assist commercial and tribal bison producers impacted by the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. “The bison industry will likely experience the lingering effects of the current market situation for another two years. The drop in the carcass price for bison has declined rapidly since the pandemic and producers and plants are struggling,” the Commissioner wrote in a letter sent to Secretary Perdue earlier today.
“Therefore, we are proposing a market facilitation payment based on the herd inventory on February 21, 2020 and reflecting the drop in the market value of bison.” The National Bison Association sent a letter to Secretary Perdue on March 27th, requesting that bison producers be included in any livestock assistance program crafted by USDA utilizing the $9.5 billion allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The Secretary responded that he will consider the needs of bison producers “as we continue to assess how we can best help our hardworking farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers.” In early April, the National Bison Association began to develop an in-depth analysis of the COVID-19 impacts throughout the bison business. Dave Carter, National Bison Association executive director, explained, “Because USDA does not maintain extensive industry data on bison, we felt it important to provide an analysis that could be utilized as the basis for policymaking.” The NBA analysis identified severe disruption and financial impact because of the loss of foodservice business, which has served as the primary outlet for high-value bison steaks. Even though retail demand for bison meat has spiked since the COVID-19 outbreak, that demand is driven primarily for lower-priced ground bison. Additionally, bison processors are facing increased costs as they work to maintain a healthy and safe work environment for their employees. As the NBA was conducting its analysis, Goehring reached out to leaders of the North Dakota Buffalo Association and the InterTribal Buffalo Council to identify specific policy recommendations that could be developed. The North Dakota, National Bison Association and Tribal leaders put a working group together that established the proposed assistance that was conveyed to Secretary Perdue today. That package proposes compensation of $210 for bison cows and bulls, $252 for finishing stock weighing between 400 – 800 lbs., and $294 for finished bison weighing more than 800 lbs. Additionally, Commissioner Goehring’s letter encourages expanded use of bison meat in school lunch and other nutrition programs when the nation begins to recover from the COVID-19 shutdowns. Kevin Leier, a Rugby, ND bison rancher and executive director of the North Dakota Buffalo Association, said today, “We commend Commissioner Goehring for his commitment to bring together key stakeholders in the bison business, and to help us develop specific recommendations that will help producers across the country weather this storm.” Mike Faith, chair of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation and vice chair of the InterTribal Buffalo Council, added, “We want to not only help producers get through this immediate crisis, but also look for opportunities to utilize the meat from this magnificent animal to help restore the health of our families and communities as we emerge into a brighter day.” Carter noted, “Just as bison stick together when adversity threatens the herd, the community of bison producers at the national, state and tribal level worked together to develop sound, constructive proposals. We thank Commissioner Goehring for helping us carry those proposals to Secretary Perdue.” Dave Carter, 303.594.4420; Kevin Leier, 701.208.0440, National Bison Association.
By Robert Arnason The Western Producer May 12, 2020
Only a couple of months ago, the price of a bison carcass was close to $5 a pound in Western Canada.
Now, prices on the rail have dropped to $3.50 per lb.
But that number isn’t precise because the packing plants are processing very few animals.
Many producers depend on bison meat sales to the U.S. and Europe to maintain the price of bison in Western Canada. With restaurants closed in America and across the European Union because of COVID-19, exports of Canadian bison meat have fallen off a cliff.
“There’s no liquidity right now,” said Dean Andres, who raises bison near Windthorst, in eastern Saskatchewan. “Any Canadian (bison) producers that are reliant on a Canadian plant or somebody to buy their calves, that market has, I don’t want to say ‘collapsed,’ but that’s probably the most accurate word.”
Statistics Canada data illustrates the size of the drop. From Jan. 1 to March 31: • U.S. bison meat exports were worth C$1.38 million. That’s down from $3.8 million in the first three months of 2019. • Total exports were $1.77 million, down from $6.07 million in January, February and March of 2019. • Sales to France were $81,000, compared to $479,000 in January-March of 2019.
“The (meat) inventories in Canada are scary right now,” Andres said. “It was destined for Europe or restaurants. And then when things shut down … a lot of marketers were stuck.”
Within Canada, the bison trade sells the majority of meat to restaurants and food service companies. A small percentage is sold at grocery stores.
There are three federally inspected bison processing plants in Western Canada: Bouvry Exports in Fort Macleod, Alta., Canadian Premium Meats in Lacombe, Alta., and True North Foods in Carman, Man.
High-end cuts of bison from those plants, like sirloins, tenderloins and rib eyes, would normally be exported to Europe, but the price of air freight has become a massive barrier.
“We’re paying $15 a kilogram to ship in there…. Freight is usually around $3 per kilo,” Andres said, explaining that European customers pay a price for bison meat that includes shipping. Canadian exporters cover the cost of freight.
“We’re all crossing our fingers…. Airlines flying would definitely help the Canadian bison market because most of the bison that are slaughtered, part of the carcass does go to Europe.”
U.S. markets slowed
While bison meat exports to the U.S. have slowed, live bison exports are similar to 2019. From January to March live animal exports were worth $17.7 million, nearly a carbon copy of the $17.6 million in the first three months of 2019.
America’s bison trade continues to slaughter and sell a significant number of animals, despite the closure of thousands of restaurants.
Bison is available at most grocery stores in America, including major players like Costco. Consequently, the U.S. bison trade is better positioned to shift additional sales to retail.
Ranchers who export live bison to American buyers are faring better than other Canadian producers, Andres said.
“They have their loads booked for the year. So those guys are doing pretty well, even though the price has dropped quite a bit in the U.S.”
The value of bison calves is also down in Western Canada. At the last sale, most calves sold for less than $1,000. Some were close to $700.
“I would peg cost at production at $1,100, per calf, to break even,” Andres said.
“Those are post-BSE prices. It’s a little bit scary for a lot of producers.”
Something that could help bison producers is the federal Surplus Food Purchase Program, a $50 million initiative announced early May. If the feds would buy some of the bison meat in storage, more animals could be slaughtered, which might prop up bison prices and reduce the number of animals on feed.
“That offers some potential for the bison industry,” Kremeniuk said.
That’s one possibility, but there’s no silver bullet solution, he added.
This may require direct aid to help with feeding costs, more sales to Canadian grocery stores and more air traffic, which would reduce the freight cost to Europe.
“We definitely need to get some retail (sales) going (in Canada). It seems like restaurants are going to be very, very slow coming back,” Andres said.
“I think what’s most important right now is that we get back to killing bison so we don’t clog up the supply chain.” Contact robert.arnason@producer.com
