Bison Producers:

The bison industry has experienced significant change which is evident in the 2011Bison Census.  This is clearly reflected where bison numbers and farms reporting bison have declined by over 36.0% over the five-year period.  By region the reduction rates are as follows: BC farms down by 41.3%, AB farms down by 34.3%, SK farms down by 41.0%, MB farms down by 34.9%, ON farms down by 15.5%, QC farms down by 34.8% and Maritimes farms down by 20.0%.

IThe number for bison animals shows a simular picture.  By region the reduction rates in bison population are as follows: BC bison population had decreased by 27.0%, AB population had decreased by 41.0%, SK animal population had decreased by 31.5%, MB population had decreased by 28.1%, ON bison population decreased by 43.5%, QC population had decreased by 44.9% and Maritimes bucked the trend by having their bison population increase by 7.3%.

 

Bison Population and Bison Farm Numbers-2011, 2006, 2001 and 1996 Census
	# of Head 1996	# of Farms 1996	# of Head 2001	# of Farms 2001	# of Head 2006	# of Farms 2006	# of Head 2011	# of Farms 2011
British Columbia	6,245	57	8,964	98	12,656	121	9,206	71
Alberta	22,782	334	79,821	950	97,366	869	57,483	571
Saskatchewan	7,006	175	34,781	562	57,395	597	39,343	352
Manitoba	4,621	73	13,437	157	19,609	166	14,116	108
Ontario	2,344	46	3,755	58	4,106	71	2,320	60
Quebec	2,236	56	4,192	58	4,322	69	2,380	45
Maritimes	n/a	n/a	n/a	4	274	5	294	4
Total	45,235	745	144,950	1,887	195,728	1,898	125,142	1,211