The American Bison (buffalo) is a well established symbol of the American West. Also well known is the near extinction of the Plains Bison in the late 1880's.  Today the good news is that due to preservation-minded ranchers of that era, and the current demand for bison meat, bison numbers are increasing rapidly. Today there are approx. 500,000 bison in the United States and the numbers of bison are growing by 15-20% per year. Even with this rapid and continual population increase, Bison meat only supplies 0.01% of the red meat market.
	The bison is a strong and capable wild animal. Extremely social with intense herd instincts, they choose to stay in a family unit which consists of a continually tested yet established hierarchy. On Swauk Prairie we accommodate the bison's need for social order to the greatest degree possible. We work to enhance their natural tendencies, not to work against them. By doing so, we strive to keep the bison wild and to preserve the strength, endurance and character of this special  animal.
Bison prefer grass to other feeds. Our bison are grass fed on pasture, grass hay and alfalfa.. Most of the grass fed to our bison is grown as dry land hay here on the farm on Swauk Prairie. Bison prefer the prairie grass and grow large and healthy upon it. Rest assured that the meat you receive from Swauk Prairie Bison will contain NO growth enhancers, NO hormones, or any other compound to push performance. It is our belief that this magnificent animal has been refined by nature and man cannot improve upon it.