Bison Meat Industry Struggles To Meet Demand, Sending Prices Up. Hide captionSales of bison meat like this sirloin steak have risen in recent years, as more consumers look for red meat that is lower in fat and cholesterol than most beef.
Larry Crowe/AP Sales of bison meat like this sirloin steak have risen in recent years, as more consumers look for red meat that is lower in fat and cholesterol than most beef. Bison ranchers from across the U.S. are gathering in Denver this week to figure out how to recruit more people into the bison business and ratchet up the meat supply. That's because a shortage of bison is pushing prices to a near-record high. Bison meat is averaging $7 per pound — an increase of $2 from a year ago. Wyoming. Bison Ranching for Beginners. For health and natural foods enthusiasts, the appeal of bison is primarily in its health benefits.
Bison meat is low in fat and cholesterol, but extremely nutrient-dense, with high levels of iron, protein, healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, and various vitamins and minerals. Because it is often naturally raised, organic, and primarily or exclusively grass-fed, natural foods enthusiasts and "compassionate carnivores" have also embraced bison as a healthy, humane, sustainable alternative to conventionally raised beef and other meats, with their high levels of antibiotics, hormones, and chemical pesticides, and inhumane animal handling practices.
If you produce exclusively grassfed bison meat, consider giving your marketing a boost with sustainable and ethical foodies by becoming an American Grassfed Association Certified Producer. Western enthusiasts are often interested in the experience of the West more than the bison themselves, and may appreciate a more "hands-on" approach to marketing. Raising Bison - National Bison Association.