Bison have been increasingly farmed as an alternative to cattle, but their semi-wild nature and strong stress responses to handling create distinct welfare challenges that differ fundamentally from cattle management.
Bison welfare in farming contexts requires recognizing that these are semi-domesticated animals retaining strong wild stress responses that have not been significantly diminished by centuries of ranching. Handling procedures that are routine for cattle create extreme stress in bison, and forcing bison through conventional livestock facilities designed for cattle causes welfare harm. Low-stress handling techniques specifically adapted for bison, combined with appropriate facility design that minimizes confinement and forced proximity to humans, can substantially reduce the welfare costs of necessary husbandry procedures.