How Bison Are Raised in Alberta

Bison are well adapted to Alberta conditions, but raising them successfully still requires deliberate decisions about land, forage, fencing, handling and herd health.

Pasture is an important part of many bison operations

Bison are grazing ruminants. Many Alberta producers use pasture during the growing season and stored forage when grazing is limited by winter or other conditions. The exact feeding program varies by farm.

Bison management is not cattle management

Bison and cattle share some livestock-management principles, but bison behaviour and handling characteristics require appropriate facilities, fencing and experience. Producers design their systems around the animals they raise and the conditions on their farm.

Winter changes the system

Alberta winters can affect forage availability, water access and nutritional requirements. Producers may provide hay or other stored feeds and manage pasture differently as conditions change.

Herd health still matters

Bison producers make herd-health decisions involving nutrition, disease prevention, parasites, injury and veterinary care. Practices can differ between operations, which is why farm-specific transparency matters.

There is no single Alberta bison system

Some operations are extensive grazing ranches. Others use different combinations of pasture, stored forage and supplemental feed. PureBeef describes the practices a producer actually uses rather than assuming every bison farm operates the same way.