The Sustainability of Bison Production in North America: A Scoping Review

The American bison (Bison bison) is iconic of the Great Plains of North America, yet the genus has had to overcome near extinction in the recent past prior to being re-established for food production. This scoping review summarizes the literature on the Plains Bison as a large ruminant species adequ...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability
Main Authors: Simon Tielkes, Brianne A. Altmann
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021
Subjects:
American buffalo
biodiversity
production performance
economic value
greenhouse gas emissions
life cycle assessment
envir
socio
Bison bison bison
Plains Bison
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413527
https://doaj.org/article/83ef2754176044b3aaf68ae57f5e1ab4
Description
Summary:The American bison (Bison bison) is iconic of the Great Plains of North America, yet the genus has had to overcome near extinction in the recent past prior to being re-established for food production. This scoping review summarizes the literature on the Plains Bison as a large ruminant species adequate for modern-day meat production in order to evaluate the species’ appropriateness as a sustainable meat source and to identify knowledge gaps hindering the sustainability evaluation of bison production. To date, we can anecdotally assume that bison husbandry could contribute to sustainability based on its positive contribution to biodiversity, physiological robustness, economically higher price per kg, and nutritive values, despite their decreased growth and performance rates compared to beef cattle. However, targeted and system-based research is required in order to unequivocally assess the sustainability of bison production in North America.

Similar Items