The Differences Between Bison and Beef
Bison and cattle are both believedas toes ungulates. They're genetically related as they're both part of theidentical Bovidae family. Bison are nomadic grass-grazers, while cattle tend tobe domesticated animals. Both are ruminants meaning they get nourishmentthrough plants.
They are able to accomplish thisbecause they have distinct stomach systems that allow them to ferment plantmatter prior to digestion. Cattle are often fed grains-based diets, regardlessof their natural preferences for plants that are green.
Bison On the other hand they arepermitted to move as a herd , and consume their natural food. This is not theonly thing, but their movements are believed to be motivated by the desire toimprove their diet. It is easy to find an bison at an animal ranch.
Buffalo refers to the nickname thatis given to American bison from the United States as well as Canada Bison. Itis therefore reasonable to consider the buffalo the nickname. The actualbuffalo which's an ancestor of that of the American bison is an entirely differentspecies.
The real buffalo lives in Asia andis distinguished by its appearance that is distinct from that of the Americanbison. In the past the bison had a huge presence on across the North Americancontinent, which extended from north to Alaska as well as south to Mexico andeast over into the Appalachian Mountain Range.
But by the end of the 1800s, theimpact of human hunts and destruction of habitats had reduced numbers of wildbuffalo down to just a handful of hundred.
Bison numbers have been able torecover even though their habitat is significantly less than what it was duringthe earlier times. The United States, there are currently 500,000 bisonincluding approximately 12,000 in Canada.
There is only an bison ranch inMexico that has a sizeable number between 80 and 130 bison. Bison Ranch is alsobeing set up to boost their number.
Additional Information
While both cattle and bison,release methane, a lot of people believe that the small amount of methaneproduced by bison is offset by its numerous environmental benefits. Bisonaren't destroying areas through overgrazing because they migrate.
Bison are an integral part of theecosystem of North America since they are naturally occurring and wild animals.Their urine, and also dung, feed the grasslands. Their hooves help to stir seedsin the ground when they roam.
Many people enjoy the taste ofbeef, however they are concerned about the impact on the environment of thebeef industry's expansion within the United States.
By replacing beef with bison withinyour food choices, you're helping to ensure the survival and cultivating aplant essential to the ecology of prairies.
Final Thoughts
The above mentioned differences arejust a few of the main current differences between bison and beef. The demandfor bison meat is increasing each day, thanks to the growing amount of bisonranches being established in different parts of the world.
After having read this sectionyou'll get an idea of the differences between the two species. Due to the manyhealth benefits that come with bison meat, plenty of people are now switchingto bison instead of beef.
