WEBER BISON RANCH

(updated pictures will come in May)

Ask about our Mounted Bison Calves for sale. Click here to learn more.

Bison is one of the fastest growing industries in agriculture today. More people are raising bison and selling bison meat. The industry is based on the demand for healthy, lean, nutritious bison meat. Bison producers can be found in all 50 states, every Canadian province, and many countries around the world. Females are worth more than the bulls. Prime meat animals are bulls or heifers between 18 - 30 months of age, and are worth at least twice what prime beef demands.  They are a new source of healthy eating. Its is becoming common knowledge that bison meat is better for you then beef. If you would happen to eat the pure fat of a bison, it still is better than the meat of the cow. 

Bison are naturally hearty. Having thrived on the North American continent for thousands of years, they are adaptable to a wide variety of climates. Winter storms and summer heat are not problems for this animal. Bison are not a domestic animal and require special consideration when handling. Low-pressure, low-stress techniques are required. A person must stay calm around them and be quiet. The bison have a good sense of smell and they can sense danger and fear. So the calmer you are around them, the calmer they are. Today's bison producers have developed handling systems, corrals, and techniques that make bison handling safe for animal and producer. Fencing requirements for bison vary and are not as demanding as one might think. Once, when 80 mile an hour winds tore through our yard and torn down the fence that keep the yearlings feeder bulls and the horses separate, the 100 bulls were kept in the horse fence by one electric wire fence. But don't ever try to fence them in with only one wire. Most people in the industry use 6 foot corral panels, or a 6 foot fence with 5 or 6 electric wires to keep the bison in.

Bison are long-lived animals. Bison cows generally have their first calf at age three and will deliver a calf every year there-after.  Most producers plan on a 20 year reproductive life, and some producers have 30 year old cows still delivering healthy calves. Calves are born later (April - June) than domestic cattle and rarely require human assistance. Bison have a gestation period of about 280 days and usually produce one 40 - 50 pound calf. One breeding bull usually services 10 to 15 cows.

	(Left) This is a 1999  bull calf. (Right) This is a 1999 heifer calf.
( Top Left) This is a Breeding Bull                            ( Top Right ) Here is a picture of the herd in 1999.
	( Left ) This is a weanling bison heifer calf. ( Right ) Here is another picture of the herd in 1999.
	( Left ) This is a bison bull calf. ( Right ) Here is a heifer bison calf.
	These pictures was taken in 1999, 2 days before we moved the herd across the road into new pasture.
	( Left ) This is a dehorned Bison Cow. ( Right ) Here is a picture of our feed lot where the bison yearling heifers get feed until they turn 2 yrs old, then they get turned out into the pasture to get breed.