No other animal embodies the great strength and determination of this country more than the noble and majestic American Bison, symbolizing at once our best and worst instincts. It is the only contemporary species of mammal that is singularly indigenous to the North American continent. As is befitting of this status, it is also the largest and most powerful. And because it was the spiritual symbol and reality of life for Native Americans, it is the only animal ever intentionally targeted for extinction by the politics of man. Admirably, it is also the first animal ever saved from extinction by virtue of man's intervention. The pre-European herd size approximated 60,000,000 animals, with a single herd reported by Col. Richard Dodge in 1871 to measure 50 miles long by 25 miles across. They have been part of the American landscape in one form or another for over 300,000 years. Yet, within the span of only 100 years, either for profit or as an intentional political action to force Native Americans off their lands, the bison population was slaughtered to the point of extinction. There were fewer than 900 animals left alive in 1894 when, in response to pressure by independent conservationists, President Grover Cleveland signed into law a bill forbidding the killing of bison under threat of a $1,000 fine or imprisonment - a very significant penalty for that time. In 1905, the American Bison Society was formed to save the bison and to protect rangeland for the animals. Through the efforts of many dedicated people, mostly working independently of each other, today there are 275,000 bison in the United States, 91% of which are located in private herds. Bison are no longer endangered. Quite to the contrary, bison are back, and they may just provide the opportunity for both tobacco and livestock farmers to save their farms from the fate the bison once faced. In this increasingly health conscious society, bison meat is unbelievably healthy (TIME Magazine, July 19, 1999 and READER'S DIGEST, July 2001), and it offers many advantages over beef. It is richer in flavor without being gamy; it contains 35% more protein per ounce; it has shorter muscle fibers and is therefore more tender; it contains more iron and folic acid which is particularly important to women; it possesses better distribution of amino acids for more complete protein availability; it is free of the hormones, artificial growth stimulants and sub-therapeutic drugs prevalent in beef; and most important, it is much lower in calories, cholesterol and fat than beef, pork, skinless chicken or even fish. It is no exaggeration that Native Americans used everything on a bison, right down to the "grunt", and that is nearly so today. Depending upon condition, a bleached bison skull sells for $150 - $500; if it has been painted by a Native American artist with an interesting western landscape it may bring $2,500 or more. A tanned hide will cost you $850 - $1,500, and a mounted head runs $1,500 - $5,000. You can get two frozen 10 oz filet mignon steaks shipped to you door for only $57.95. Most animals are bought and sold at bison auctions sponsored by regional organizations. The average price paid for bison of all ages spiraled up rapidly until last year. In 1983 it was $379. In 1987 it more than doubled to $851. By 1993 it exceeded $1,500 and in 1998, it topped $2,600. Indeed, while reflecting the best quality the industry has to offer, the average price paid for a bison sold at the National Bison Association Gold Trophy Show and Sale in January 1999 exceeded $6,520. Prices dropped in 1999 and then stabilized during the last year. Depending upon their quality, six-month-old heifer calves can still bring $1,000 - $1,500. Bull calves will bring $1.50 a pound live weight. A good three-year-old bull destined to be a herd sire can bring $5,000 - $10,000, although the record is $101,500 and that bull is here in Kentucky. What's more, bison may live and breed into their 40's and they require very little care. They are the only land animal that doesn't get cancer. They seldom if ever have calving problems. They can only metabolize up to 12% protein, and they eat 1/3 less than cattle, so you can run three bison on the same land currently occupied by two bovines. Their grazing patterns are much less destructive than cattle. They do not require either grain or high quality hay. While they can develop a fat layer between muscle and hide, their meat will not marble irrespective of what they are fed. They are exceptionally intelligent, have excellent memories and their senses of sight, smell and hearing are extraordinary. Bison live and breed into their 40's and they require very little care. They are the only land animal that doesn't get cancer. They seldom if ever have calving problems. They can only metabolize up to 12% protein, and they eat 1/3 less than cattle, so you can run three bison on the same land currently occupied by two bovines. They do not require either grain or high quality hay and it only requires about two round bales of hay to get each bison through a normal winter in Kentucky. They are exceptionally intelligent, have excellent memories and their senses of sight, smell and hearing are extraordinary.Bison are suited to harsh winters on the plains and bison ranchers rarely lose any of their herd to the elements. Cattle, however, are not native to North America, and it shows in their survival rates. Bison are indigenous and are in harmony with their environment. Bison have seven times more hair follicles than beef animals. Water cannot penetrate the bison's thick, woolly winter coats and snow simply piles up on top of their thick, insulated coats. Bison will face directly into a storm with their massive heads and dense coats protecting them as snow drifts behind them. Bison have enormous lungs and wind pipes and they blow heated air out of their nostrils, which keeps their breathing passages from freezing and prevents suffocation. Bison use their beards and horns to brush away snow from the grass underneath and, given enough range, they require no additional feed in the winter.In winter the bison's metabolism slows down, allowing them to stay warmer while consuming less, while the cattle's metabolism speeds up requiring them to eat more in order to survive. During the memorable snowstorm of 1949, thousands of cattle perished due to cold and suffocation from the snow. Almost half a century later, the harsh winter of 1996/1997 took a toll on cattle. Blizzards in North and South Dakota caused an estimated 395,000 cattle to perish. Only one bison died, and that was because it strayed onto a highway and was struck by a tractor-trailer. On cattle ranches, beef hooves create problems. Their hooves are flat and round, which can establish ruts and kill grasses. Rain has trouble percolating through the packed soil. Cattle also tend to bunch up in one spot in the pasture and leave behind an area that is overgrazed and overrun. The ruts they create are almost impossible to reverse. Bison create the opposite effect as they tend to graze in family groups spread out over a much greater area; uneven land is leveled out as they break down rough areas. The bison aerate, nurture, and fertilize the ground, demonstrating an animal supremely adapted to its natural habitat.