Bison 2014, Health and Management Practices on U.S. Ranched-Bison Operations, 2014

Excerpts from the report: The Bison 2014 study was conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) with assistance from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). NAHMS is a nonregulatory program within the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that gathers and disseminates animal health information. NAHMS is designed to help meet the Nation’s animal health information needs. The Bison 2014 study is the first time that NAHMS has conducted a survey of the U.S. ranched-bison industry. The study was designed and conducted in response to a request from the National Bison Association to do an epidemiological investigation of Mycoplasma bovis in bison. It was determined that the first step was to conduct a study to develop baseline information about the bison industry and the health of ranched bison. The purpose of the Bison 2014 study was to compile the most-needed information about the industry with regard to animal health and production management. To meet these information needs, the Bison 2014 study had the following objectives: • Provide a baseline description of the U.S. bison industry, including basic characteristics of operations, such as inventory, size, and type. • Describe current U.S. bison industry production practices and challenges, including identification, confinement and handling, animal care, and disease testing. • Describe health management and biosecurity practices important for the productivity and health of ranched bison. • Describe producer-reported occurrence of select health problems and evaluate potentially associated risk factors.