Farm Animals

Bison and Buffalo Welfare in Production

Bison farming has grown in North America and Europe as a sustainable meat alternative, with welfare considerations including their semi-wild nature, handling challenges, and housing requirements.

Key Facts

American bison were nearly hunted to extinction before conservation efforts
Commercial bison farming in USA involves around 500,000 animals
Bison retain strong wild behaviours making handling inherently stressful
European bison (wisent) are a separate endangered species with rewilding programmes
Bison meat is marketed as sustainable and nutritious compared to beef

Welfare Considerations

Bison welfare requires management systems that account for their semi-wild nature and strong stress responses to handling. They cannot be managed like domestic cattle. Appropriate low-stress handling systems and extensive grazing conditions are essential for good welfare.

What You Can Do

Support bison conservation and rewilding programmes for European wisent
Choose bison products from farms with demonstrably low-stress handling systems
Engage with the sustainability and welfare trade-offs of bison versus beef production