Buffalo Meat - American Bison Meat

Is it buffalo or bison? The American Buffalo is not a true buffalo. Its closest relatives are the European Bison, or Wisent, and the Canadian Woods Bison, not the buffalo of Asia or Africa, such as the Cape Buffalo or Water Buffalo. Scientifically, the American Buffalo is named Bison and belongs to the Bovidae family of mammals, as do domestic cattle. Because our history has so ingrained in us the name "buffalo," we still use it, although "bison" and "buffalo" are used interchangeably. *

A brief history Bison once roamed the plains in numbers so great that early explorers could not count them. They were variously described as: "numbers-numberless," "the country was one black robe," and "the plains were black and appeared as if in motion."

The bison has been called the most important wild animal in the development of North America. They were the center of life of the Plains Indians, providing them with food, clothing, shelter, and much of their culture. Bison also sustained the lives of the explorers and settlers going West.

By the late 1800's, bison were dangerously close to extinction. Through efforts of early conservationists and ranchers who knew the value of bison, they are no longer an endangered species. Bison are again a central part of the lives of some Americans, and their numbers have increased to over 300,000 in public and private herds in North America.