Bison meat: Characteristics, challenges, and opportunities

Abstract

• The bison industry in North America is growing and continuing to position their meat products in the premium red meat marketplace both nationally and internationally. • Bison are an economically competitive red meat for livestock producers, due to their relatively low input costs and high market value. • Bison meat has shown superior nutritional (high proportion of protein and excellent source of vitamins) and palatability quality traits (generally more tender and juicy) compared with beef. • Some challenges exist, such as improving carcass assessment systems and color stability to expand into the fresh-meat retail market.