Grass or Grain? Assessing the Nature of the US Bison Industry

Abstract

By looking at recent developments in the US bison industry this article illustrates some of the inadequacies of the productive/post-productive divide in contemporary agriculture. To this end, conceptions of quality are examined to indicate the factors that move the industry towards or away from conventional modes of production. These perspectives have become manifest in attitudes regarding the use of grain in the production process. Increasingly, the use of grain conflicts with the pre-modern image of the animal, thus casting the productive/post-productive dichotomy into doubt. In order to circumvent this problem, the concept of hybrid agriculture is put forth as an alternative form of description and assessment in an attempt to redirect attention toward critical aspects of nonhumans. Hybrid agriculture stresses the need to recognise and foster the agency of nonhumans, whether it is exemplified by diverse body types or by the capacity for nonhumans to redistribute themselves within the physical environment.

Rural geography: blurring boundaries and making connections

“…Food research has additionally formed an arena in which rural geographers have made interdisciplinary connections with physical and natural scientists, along with contexts such as sustainable development and resource management. The development of such linkages reflects broader growing interest by rural geographers in the impacts of environmental change and of new biotechnologies (eg, Ferreyra et al, 2008;Holloway and Morris, 2008), as well as in the 'more-than-human' dimensions of the hybrid rural (eg, Jones, 2006;Kaljonen, 2006;Lulka, 2006).…”

The paradoxical nature of growth in the US bison industry

“…Indeed, in these writings, the concepts of 'nature' and 'society' are often rejected in order to reconsider existing relationships (Whatmore 2001). Bison fit well within this subfield, as they are iconic animals that have a profound physical presence (Lavigne 2002, Lulka 2004, 2006.…”

The Sustainability of Bison Production in North America: A Scoping Review

“…Intensive husbandry is primarily characterized by fattening animals to a desired final weight in as short a time as possible. In feedlots, energy-rich, high-quality feed, such as concentrated feeds from corn and wheat, is primarily fed to ensure rapid growth in bison husbandry [73]. Finishing in feedlots usually takes place between 90 to 120 days pre-slaughter and is intended to ensure uniform fat storage in the muscles (marbling) and to promote a light red color of the meat [9].…”