Bison vs. Beef: What Consumers Should Know

Bison and beef can look similar on the plate, but they come from different animals with different production characteristics. Understanding those differences can help you ask better questions when buying directly from an Alberta producer.

Bison is not simply another type of beef

Beef comes from cattle. Bison meat comes from bison. Although both are large grazing ruminants and many familiar cuts have similar names, bison is its own species.

How does bison meat differ?

Bison is generally a lean meat and provides protein and nutrients including iron, zinc and vitamin B12. Exact nutritional values vary by cut, trimming and preparation, just as they do with beef.

Because many bison cuts are relatively lean, cooking methods that work well for heavily marbled beef may not always produce the same result with bison. Overcooking lean bison can make it less tender.

Are bison raised like cattle?

There are similarities, but bison management is not identical to cattle management. Bison producers must account for the animals’ behaviour, handling characteristics, fencing, pasture management, nutrition and herd health.

Individual farms also differ. Management practices can change with season, forage conditions and the needs of the herd.

What about traceability?

Canadian livestock traceability requirements include bison. Identification and movement requirements help support animal health and traceability within the Canadian livestock system.

Is bison graded like beef?

Bison and beef have different carcass grading systems. Grading and meat inspection also serve different purposes, so consumers should not assume that an ungraded product is the same thing as an uninspected product.

Which one is better?

There is no universal answer. Some consumers prefer bison because of its flavour, leanness or interest in supporting bison producers. Others prefer the marbling, availability, price or cooking characteristics of beef.

PureBeef’s role is not to decide which one you should prefer. Our goal is to help you understand how the animal was raised, how the meat was produced and what questions to ask the farmer.