Beefalo is a cross-breed of domestic cattle and Bison (American Buffalo)

Beefalo is a combination of buffalo and domestic cattle, but the combining doesn’t take place in a mixing bowl. It’s the result of cross breeding.

The bison influence in Beefalo can range from 17% to 37.5% (3/8). “Fullblood Beefalo have 3/8 Bison genetics. Crossbred cattle with more than 3/8 Bison are properly classified as “Bison Hybrids”.

It’s a well established principle that the cross-breeding of two or more breeds of domestic cattle will usually result in calves with genetic strengths and improved hybrid vigour. Many of today’s composite cattle breeds are the result of cross-breeding programmes which have combined two or more breeds of domestic cattle.

A Beefalo can have up to 3/8 Bison genetics. The other 5/8 of the genetic makeup can come from virtually any of the domestic breeds of cattle (Angus, Limousin, Hereford, Brahman, etc) or from any of the newer composite breeds (St.Gertrudis, Droughtmaster, Brangus, etc). The breeding can be accomplished by natural service, by artificial insemination or by using other reproductive techniques like embryo transfer.

Beefalo offers many production advantages over other breeds of cattle

The American Bison is one of the most perfectly adapted grazing animals on the planet. It can survive under harsh conditions and can thrive on land considered unsuitable for domestic cattle. Bison calves are generally smaller at birth than domestic calves, but they grow rapidly. While some Bison reach sexual maturity later than some domestic cattle (some European breeds), they usually have a longer reproductive life and can therefore produce more healthy calves during an average life span.

Beefalo are true best-of-both-worlds animals. Typically, they inherit the Bison’s production advantages such as fertility, good mothering, longer productive life, higher lean to fat ratio, hardiness, disease resistance and the ability to efficiently convert even marginal or poor forage into a higher-quality meat protein. At the same time, Beefalo are generally as easy to manage as any domestic breed. Anyone currently raising “regular” cattle can raise Beefalo…without ever owning a Bison!

Beefalo meat has less total fat, less cholesterol and fewer calories

Test conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have demonstrated Beefalo’s superior protein efficiency. While it has more protein than beef from ordinary cattle, Beefalo has fewer calories and significantly lower levels of both total fats and saturated fats.

It cooks quickly and cleanly: There are two primary kinds of fat in meats…external fat and intramuscular fat. While a lot of the external fat can be trimmed away before cooking, intramuscular fat (usually called marbling) cannot be cut out without destroying the meat. It must be melted away.

Fat is an excellent insulator, so part of the heat and time needed for cooking normal beef is used to melt the fat. Typically, Beefalo has less external and intramuscular fat, so more of the heat is being used to cook the meat. Beefalo meat requires less cooking time and less fat also means less grease and mess in the pan.

But anything you can do with beef you can do with Beefalo!

Beefalo producers are less likely to encounter calving problems

Beefalo calves are born small, but very vigorous. Even in cattle that are known for large birth weights and frequent calving problems, the infusion of bison brings the size of the newborn calf down. Once they are born they will catch up quickly in size as they start nibbling grass and hay at a very early age.

  Whitsunday Beefalo

P.O. Box 916  Proserpine  Q. 4800

Phone  07  4945 3400

Fax      07  4945 2265

e-mail  christina@beefaloaustralia.com

Return to top of page

 [ HOME ] [ LINKS ] [PRESS ] [QUICK FACTS ] [ MEAT ] [ FIELDDAY ] [ SEMEN] [ FAQ ]
[CALVES2001] [ WHY BREED BEEFALO ] [ BEEFALO CROSSES ]