North American bison have been transitioned from wild herds to farmed production over the past century. The welfare implications of this transition — handling stress, fencing, social disruption — require species-specific management approaches.
Bison farming welfare sits between wild animal and livestock management. Bison retain behavioral characteristics shaped by millions of years of wild evolution — they are not domesticated in the way cattle are, and they respond to conventional livestock management with acute stress responses. Welfare-positive bison farming requires investment in low-stress handling facilities, appropriate social group composition, minimal separation from herds, and veterinary protocols adapted to a semi-wild species. The growing market for bison meat as a more sustainable red meat alternative makes welfare standards in this sector increasingly important to establish before the industry scales further.