The majestic animals that dominated the plains landscape during our country’s early history are often called buffalo. Despite being mentioned in popular folklore and campfire songs, the buffalo did not, in fact, roam America. The animal commonly known as buffalo is, in fact, the American bison.
The confusion of names dates back to the time of the explorers. The word “bison” has Greek roots and means an ox-like animal. While “buffalo” comes from the French word “boeufs” which means ox or bull. So the origins of the misnomer are extremely similar, leading to even more confusion. The term buffalo dates back further than the word bison, however bison is the official name of the border symbol. The two names for the same animal were simply the result of the American melting pot and the assimilation of multiple cultures.
Officially, there are two species of buffalo, the African buffalo and the Asian buffalo, but these animals are completely unrelated to the American bison and don’t even resemble bison. So, technically, the buffalo has never been native to North America. When people ask what the difference is between bison and buffalo, the answer is “nothing” and “a lot” all at the same time. When people refer to the American icon, buffalo and bison are often used interchangeably.
There was a time when bison were nearly extinct in the country’s bison belt. Their meat was valued for being rich in nutrients and high in protein, however the real value of bison during the westward movement was the animals’ large, luxurious hides. Skinning parties captured the animals for their skins. Unfortunately, the animals were overhunted and were unable to maintain a large population.
A few selected small pods survived near extinction by hiding out in isolated areas such as Utah’s Antelope Island or Pelican Valley near Yellowstone National Park. In the early 1900s, some ranchers attempted to revive the bison by herding small herds to create a sustainable population. Due to the diligent work of these ranchers to re-establish the bison as a mainstay in North America, the North American bison is no longer an endangered species.
For the past two decades, ranchers and bison enthusiasts have worked hard to reintroduce bison as a consumable meat, a delicious alternative to beef. Many ranchers introduced bison to their properties after learning that bison were the mainstay of the Plains Indians, who never got cancer, heart disease, or stroke, despite living in their eighties and nineties. In fact, scientists speculated that if the Plains Indians had had dental care, they would have lived to be one hundred and thirty-five years old.
Bison continues to gain popularity as a table staple due to the nutritional benefits of this lean red meat, including:
- Bison meat has fewer calories and less cholesterol than chicken, fish, or ostrich.
- Bison meat is 97% fat free.
- Bison meat has 40% more protein than beef.
- Eating 5 oz of bison, 3-4 times per week can help most people lower their LDL cholesterol by 40-45% over a 6-month period.
Bison ranches are dedicated to promoting the conservation of bison as well as the environment. Most bison ranches allow their herds to roam large expanses, where natural habitat is preserved, rather than confining the animals to pens. The animals are fed a natural diet and do not receive enhancers such as steroids or hormones. These measures contribute to both the quality and flavor of the meat, while giving the bison a pleasant life.
So whether you’ve tried bison meat, seen it on the menu at a local restaurant, or maybe heard Ted Turner talk about it, it really doesn’t matter if you call it “buffalo” meat, but now you know , is technically “bison” meat.
