GREELEY, Colo. (AP) – Looking back nearly 30 years to when he started Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, Weld County resident Bob Dineen said he knew there was demand in the state for bison meat and wanted to help set an industry standard for quality.
Now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is pledging to do its first extensive survey on bison beginning this year. Dineen said he’s glad to see the USDA recognize the relatively small but steadily growing industry.
Dave Carter, executive director of the Westminster-based National Bison Association, said demand for bison meat has increased greatly over the last decade, especially among those looking for natural, lean options.
Carter hopes the survey will provide information on diseases in bison, helping to fortify the industry, for which Colorado is considered a prime supplier.
He said the industry went to the USDA for help conducting a survey that will help producers battle health issues in the animals, and the agency agreed.
“This is really a comprehensive study to address a whole manner of health and production issues in our business,” he said.
The bison industry pales in comparison to those of traditional meats.
Carter said about 60,000 bison were processed last year in the United States, compared with 125,000 cattle slaughtered every day on average.
Dineen and Carter said they’re happy with that, hoping to keep theirs more of a niche industry focused on natural production.
“The worst thing we could have is everybody in the country going to the store tomorrow looking for bison because we can’t supply that,” Carter said.
Until about 10 years ago, bison was mostly viewed as a foreign meat.
“Our biggest challenge over the last decade has been to get that first taste in people’s mouths,” Carter said.
Prices rose to $10 per pound of ground bison at one point last year, and they’ve settled at closer to $9, which Carter said seems to be working for consumers and producers.
“When you start to see national customer demand increase like it has, we continue to scramble to keep up,” Carter said.
Dineen said much of the rise in bison prices has gone directly to the rancher, so he’s hopeful that will serve as an incentive for more people to get into the bison industry.
As for the industry as a whole, he said it’s important to increase production, but at a reasonable pace, so prices remain steady.
