ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

THE ART AND SCIENCE OF RAISING ANIMALS

“Animal Husbandry combines the art and science of raising animals by blending time-honored practices and modern scientific knowledge into a system that provides for animal well-being and provides for safe and efficient management and handling of animals.” – NAIA (National Animal Interest Alliance)

Big Horn Bison’s ranch management team acknowledges the Bison, not as a domesticated species such as cattle and sheep, but as a native inhabitant of the land our ranches encompass. To handle these animals with respect while they are inside of our facilities, the Big Horn Bison management team has been trained and instructed on how to do so in a delicate, calm, non-intrusive manner. Practicing these ranching techniques, and withholding the utmost respect for our animals is one of Big Horn Bison’s top priorities for our ranching systems to build, grow, and maintain success.

The Bison are naturally adapted and equipped for the environmental conditions of western North America. For this reason, the Big Horn Bison ranch management teams handle the animals on a less-frequent basis than other ranching systems would when handling a more “domesticated” animal. Additionally, our Bison will never receive growth hormones, as our mission stands, we aim to naturally conserve this great animal and its depleting genetics. Antibiotics will only be used to treat sick Bison in extreme conditions outside of the extension of our dependence on the natural role that our ranches allow Mother Nature to control.

In order to keep the Big Horn Bison herds “at home”, our ranch management teams are held to expectations meant to maintain the lands, pastures, corrals, and facilities all-encompassing at our ranches. These expectations have been set to exceed the bars set by standard ranching regulations that other ranching systems might use and follow regularly.

Our Bison are allowed to exercise all of their natural, instinctive behaviors within their herds, including the establishment of a natural “pecking order”. Doing this and other practices mentioned above will ensure the Bison are under minimal to 0 stress whilst in our ranching program/system.

As stewards for The Great American Bison, the Big Horn Bison ranching system wholeheartedly commits itself to the utmost respect of the Bison, and humane husbandry practices expected of our management teams throughout the entire life cycle of our Bison.