Maintaining genetic diversity in bison herds is essential for long-term population health and individual animal welfare, as bottleneck effects from near-extinction events have lasting consequences.
The genetic consequences of the bison near-extinction event continue to affect individual animal welfare a century later. Reduced genetic diversity from the bottleneck limits immune response diversity, potentially increasing susceptibility to novel pathogens and reducing individual fitness. Cattle gene introgression, while not welfare-harmful per se, represents a loss of authentic bison genetics that complicates conservation objectives. Managing bison genetics to restore diversity while maintaining genetic authenticity requires coordination across facilities and wild herds. Individual animals in genetically diverse herds with appropriate management tend to show better reproductive success, immune function, and resilience — welfare outcomes directly linked to genetic conservation decisions made at the population level.