The Modern Bison Industry: Statistics and Growth

The bison industry is one of the most resilient and growing sectors of American agriculture. Today, a diverse network of private ranchers, tribal nations, and public agencies are working together to expand the presence of the American Bison across North America. Below are the key industry figures from the most recent USDA Agricultural Census and regional data.

Bison Slaughter Data:

The RMBA is proud to support the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) in their efforts to enhance the accuracy and accessibility of national bison harvest data. We look forward to the launch of their Bison Data Dashboard, a vital tool that will provide producers and stakeholders with the transparent market insights needed to drive the industry forward.

According to the most recent USDA Ag Census, which was conducted in 2022:

Bison in US Private Herds

• 1,986 active bison producers
• 192,477 head of bison
• Average herd size: 77 head

Bison in Colorado

• 110 active bison producers (ranked 2nd in US)
• 9,555 head of bison (ranked 5th in US)
• Average herd size: 87 head

Bison in Wyoming

• 45 active bison producers (ranked 17th in US)
• 8,715 head of bison (ranked 6th in US)
• Average herd size: 194 head

Bison in Tribal Herds

• 70 bison herds
• Over 11,700 head of bison
• Average herd size: 167 head

Bison in US Federal Herds (DOI 2020)

• 19 bison herds in 12 states
• Over 11,000 head of bison

Bison in Other US State and Public Herds (USFWS 2022)

• Over 10,000 head of bison

There are over 226,000 head of bison in the United States in total, based on the most recent data listed above. The growth of the industry is fueled by a rising demand for healthy, sustainable proteins. Many RMBA members are small-to-mid-sized producers who specialize in direct-to-consumer sales, providing farm-to-table bison meat while others focus on providing elite breeding stock for larger markets.