A passion for bison…
The Montana Bison Association is a not-for-profit association formed in 1999 comprised of bison producers and enthusiasts with a passion for this majestic animal. We are a member of the National Bison Association. Please spend some time on our website to learn how we are restoring this iconic species to its native landscape.
Our mission:
To promote buffalo (also known as bison, hereinafter referred to as “buffalo”) and buffalo products, namely breeding stock, meat and by-products. To seek fair and equitable regulations in the control of disease and in the movements of buffalo and buffalo products, for intrastate, interstate and international purposes. To perpetuate buffalo as a great North American native animal and to study, sponsor research, collect and disseminate pertinent information pertaining to buffalo. The Association shall be known as a non-profit organization, with the monies accumulated being used to carry out functions of the Association and the promotion and welfare of the buffalo.
As it has for thousands of years across North America, bison offers a supreme protein choice for the health conscious consumer. It also offers an ideal tool for regenerative agriculture and provides a supreme model for sustainable ranching in Montana. Thanks to the bison’s inherent grazing practices, when managed correctly, the bison restore prairies while improving habitat for native species that range from birds to fauna. Bison is the perfect choice to restore landscapes while offering a livestock species that is low maintenance, profitable and in high demand.
Why eat bison?
Bison has been utilized as a protein source for thousands upon thousands of years in North America and beyond. Today, stewards are raising bison on ranches across Montana in a holistic, hands-off approach that results in the cleanest, most natural meat available in the market place today. Bison is naturally high in proteins and vitamins, and is among the leanest proteins which incidentally is also delicious. Growth hormones are federally prohibited from use in bison, and antibiotics are only used when the welfare of the animal is in question. The results is a deliciously natural meat that is today embraced by consumers as a uniquely American delicacy. Learn more about the many health attributes of bison here.
Why raise bison?
Bison evolved on the Montana landscape and, as such, are perfectly suited for the environment. Bison, when managed correctly, have proven to be efficient utilizers of feed, beneficial to riparian areas, and restorative to plant and bird life. As a low-maintenance livestock species, bison are typically only rounded up and worked once a year and are otherwise left to their own devices out in pasture. Bison require no shelter, are free of predation, have a long and productive lifespan, calve on their own and are extremely hardy animals that thrive on the Montana landscape. It’s what we refer to as the “bison advantage”.
Why support bison restoration?
Bison, once decimated to less than 1,000 animals, are today growing in unprecedented numbers and total over 400,000 in North America. Granted, 90% of today’s bison are raised on private lands, however these stewards of the American bison strive to mimic nature as closely as possible while responsibly raising healthy livestock on their ranches and farms. We believe that bison need to be managed for the health of the animal, the health of the landscape, and believe bison should produce a product that supports man’s existence. Accordingly, in 2016 the bison was named the first-ever National Mammal of the U.S. in 2016 thanks to efforts by the National Bison Association, the Inter-tribal Buffalo Council and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Learn more here.