State of the Bison Industry

North America’s bison ranchers and marketers have worked hard during the past two decades to establish a unique, strong and profitable position in the American marketplace.

A growing segment of the public is embracing bison meat because of its great taste and nutritional benefits, and because bison help to restore grassland ecosystems across North America and assists in the continued restoration of the species. Bison is uniquely American in that literally all bison in today’s marketplace were born, raised, and processed in the United States and Canada. Grassfed beef, bison’s biggest competition, by contrast imports approximately 75% of its meat from abroad. 

Today, bison is a viable alternative sector in the American agricultural economy, and a model of the sustainable food movement. Bison are Regenerative By Nature and, when managed correctly, can serve as a powerful tool in regenerating healthy soils, grasslands, and the species itself. As such, the NBA educates its members, and all bison stakeholders, a very holistic and sustainable management model in its bison-specific educational tools and resources. Due to a tight supply of animals amid growing consumer demand, market prices continue to rise encouraging existing and new producers to raise more bison. 

While growth in demand for our products is welcome, it is also significantly impacting the supply of market-ready animals available and resulting in the tightest supply our market as experienced in our short history as an industry. As such, the NBA is actively recruiting new bison stewards who will raise these animals in accordance with our association’s code of ethics, which all members abide by and ensures responsible and humane stewardship of bison.

This tight supply of bison is expected to last the next several years, as it takes bison longer to mature than cattle, it’s most common comparison. This is due the small size of our industry, and to the fact that bison remain an undomesticated species, which are federally prohibited from receiving growth stimulants. In 2024, approximately 80,000 bison were slaughtered in the U.S. under federal inspection, compared to 35 million cattle, resulting in significant impacts from market disruptions due to our small size.

While it takes longer to finish bison than cattle, our producers want to retain the innate instincts that bison retain, which result in a lower maintenance livestock. As such, we don’t tinker with the species. We don’t artificially inseminate. We don’t brand. We don’t castrate. We don’t dehorn. We don’t selectively breed. All in an effort to preserve this magnificent animal, the United States National Mammal, which does take longer to bring to market as a result. 

Despite this tight supply, the National Bison Association continues to promote bison to the public as a primary sponsor of the popular Heritage Fire Tour, which tours the United States in key consumer markets, in which bison is the featured protein that local independent chefs prepare over open fire and introduce a vast majority to this American delicacy. Bison also has a significant presence on social media, as the NBA utilizes it to further educate the public about our amazing product and the bison species. 

The NBA relies on its membership to support and guide the association to support and grow this niche industry that we’ve collectively developed, but there are many other organizations that are actively involved with and fostering our growth as well, and which should be utilized by bison producers and other stakeholders. 

For example, the relationships that the National Bison Association has built with key leaders within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other agencies continues to benefit ranchers across the country. The NBA works with key agencies and the United States Congress to maintain an even playing field for bison producers who should be treated equally among fellow livestock producers.

The Center of Excellence for Bison Studies, established in 2020 within the South Dakota State University system, is bringing together researchers and academicians from across the country with projects to improve the ability of bison producers to manage healthy herds and produce healthy meat. The NBA will be housed at the Center of Excellence starting in 2025 through a unique collaboration that benefits both organizations. 

A formal memorandum of understanding established among the National Bison Association and the Intertribal Buffalo Council in 2014 continues to unite our respective organizations in a common commitment to the success of private and Tribal producers. The NBA and ITBC met in January 2023 to update and sign a renewed version of that important MOU.

The NBA’s strong working relationship with the Canadian Bison Association assures that bison producers on both sides of the 49th Parallel are working together for the betterment of our business. The NBA also works closely with bison conservation stakeholders as to ensure that our respective work benefits all bison, regardless of who owns them. 

These partnerships are all helping to restore bison to their historic habitat across North America. The National Bison Association is the voice of American bison producers. Your membership commitment ensures your strong voice strong on issues of importance.