Present Trends

Bison Industry Continues to Evolve

The 2021 census reported 149,539 bison on 989 farms and ranches. This reflects and annual compound growth rate of about 5.2% since the bison census was first taken in 1996 when 42,235 bison were reported on 745 farms and ranches. The 2021 census reported a 25.3% increase in bison numbers over 2016 levels. All provinces except Manitoba reported an increase in bison numbers.

Bison Population

There were 989 bison farms and ranches that reported bison in 2021 compared to 975 bison farms in 2016 – an increase of 1.4%. The provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario reported an increase in bison producers with the remaining bison producing provinces showing a decline.

	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2021 % Change from 2016
BC	6,245	8,964	12,656	9,206	6,504	14,888	+128.9%
AB	22,782	79,821	97,366	57,483	54,907	65,405	+19.1%
Sask	7,006	34,781	57,395	39,334	40,418	52,860	+30.8%
MB	4,621	13,473	19,609	14,116	14,025	11,725	-16.4%
ON	2,344	3,755	4,106	2,320	1,843	2,974	+61.4%
QC	2,236	4,192	4,322	2,380	1,538	1,682	+9.4%
Atlantic	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	79	n/a	n/a
National	45,235	144,950	195,728	125,142	119,314	149,539	+25.3%

Farms and Ranches Reporting Bison

	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2021 % Change from 2016
British Columbia	57	98	121	71	55	48	-12.7%
Alberta	334	950	869	571	445	472	+6.1%
Saskatchewan	175	562	597	352	303	308	+1.6%
Manitoba	73	157	166	108	86	82	- 4.6%
Ontario	46	58	71	60	49	52	+6.1%
Quebec	56	58	69	45	34	26	-23.5%
Atlantic Canada	n/a	n/a	3	2	2	n/a	n/a
National	745	1,887	1,898	1,211	975	989	+1.4%

The average herd size increased by 23.8% to 151 head in 2021 compared to 122 head in 2016. British Columbia showed the largest increase in bison population as well as average herd size.

Average Herd Size

	1996	2001	2006	2011	2016	2021	2021 % Change from 2016
British Columbia	110	91	105	130	118	310	+162.7%
Alberta	68	84	112	101	123	139	+13.0%
Saskatchewan	40	62	96	112	133	172	+29.3%
Manitoba	63	86	118	131	163	143	- 12.3%
Ontario	51	65	58	39	38	57	+50.0%
Quebec	40	72	63	53	29	65	+124.1%
Atlantic Canada	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
National	61	77	103	103	122	151	+23.8%

Note: Census Data are collected in mid-May during the bison calving period. It is uncertain as to how may of the 2021 calves are included in the census.

Bison Disposition Data

Bison Slaughter and Export Statistics*

Year	Federally Inspected Slaughter	Provincially Inspected Slaughter	Live Exports	Total Bison Disposition
2002	17,579	5,189	2,306	25,074
2003	23,483	6,216	991	30,690
2004	28,276	6,594	0	34,870
2005	22,504	7,056	3,513	33,073
2006	19,040	6,595	13,255	38,890
2007	19,731	6,248	18,801	44,780
2008	19,334	4,652	25,884	49,870
2009	19,097	4,068	25,118	48,283
2010	15,602	3,433	20,973	40,008
2011	10,504	2,544	14,465	27,513
2012	11,328	2,259	14,480	28,066
2013	11,586	2,820	14,098	28,504
2014	11,854	2,517	19,033	33,404
2015	12,027	2,159	26,162	40,348
2016	9,993	1,575	22526	34117
2017	9,369	1,517	18364	29250
2018	8,530	1,511	17600	29091
2019	8,088	1,497	17701	27200
2020	5,853	2,007	20060	27790
2021	7,276	2,522	24564	34356
2022	8,255	2,537	32,362	43,042

*Agriculture and Agri-FoodCanada

Federally Inspected Bison Harvested

The above table indicates that Canadian bison harvest increased substantially after the discovery of BSE in a beef cow in 2004. Post BSE, as the border restrictions were removed federal harvesting declined and was stable 2006 - 2009. After that point federal harvest numbers declined as a greater proportion of the animals were exported to the U.S. markets. Federally inspected harvest numbers hit a low in 2020 with slaughter numbers increasing in 2021 and 2022.

Provincially Inspected Slaughter

Provincially inspected bison harvesting has declined as federally harvested bison are made available to a larger market. Also a proportionately larger number of bison were sold to premium markets in the U.S. However with the challenges created by COVID 19, supply chain issues, and economic conditions, after reaching its lowest level in 2019, provincially inspected slaughter has begun to rebound as producers take advantage of growing local markets.

Live Bison Exports

After the restrictions related to BSE were slowly removed, live bison exports to the US reached a high in 2008. Since 2008, live exports declined because the backlog of animals had been dealt with and the size of the bison herd was reduced. Live bison exports began to increase in 2014 due to the strong U.S. dollar. Exports declined in 2016 because of limited availability of animals with exports steadily increasing and reaching a historic high of 32,362 head on strong consumer demand in the US.

Bison Meat Exports, fresh or chilled (bone-in) – Kilograms

Bison meat exports to Europe after BSE were strong but began gave way to stronger US exports in 2009. Total global exports began to decline but began to rebound in 2015 and 2016 due in great part to the strong US dollar and strong US demand. In 2020 exports fell sharply with market and supply chain and economic uncertainty created by COVID-19.

Switzerland appears to have been the most consistent market with other markets being quite variable. Although France was a major market until 2009, the US has been by far the most important market for Canadian bison meat products.

Canadian Fresh or Chilled Meat Exports

Boneless

	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
United States	395,240	178,106	323,021	396,541	536,310	289,288	172,332	163,942	223,607	409,204	613,635	483,114	365,098	574,254	190,787	268,353	150,502
Netherlands	10,068	1,091				27,190						20,640	5,032	13,256	2,136	37,703	137,737
Switzerland	35,696	34,313	100,295	43,790	61,045	43,620	39,789	61,053	44,806	56,372	62,815	53,824	64,222	39,761	4,577	15,296	21,313
Italy	2,183	7,644	431			631	3,594		2,949						4,594	7,777	9,512
France	559,095	493,204	535,765	347,193	145,859	90,176	100,853	106,582	102,700	72,625	50,704	38,340	79,591	35,134	10,920	3,115	5,250
Germany	428,343	197,437	55,799	30,915	6,184	3,452	1,618	4,133					181,371	181,289	71	733
Other	176,019	274,558	10,351	16,870	31,302	782	17,611	81,843	20,285	11,087	1,459	20	64,028	121,294	795	1,341	517
Total	1,606,917	1,186,353	1,025,662	835,309	780,700	455,139	335,797	417,553	394,347	549,288	728,613	595,938	759,342	964,988	213,880	334,318	324,831
Bone-in Total	129,971	117,679	67,554	27,278	55,578	116,521	90,743	8,668	18,990	49,826	39,005	235,533	409,058	118,191	158,635	17,455	57,220

Other includes Belgium, French Southern Territory, Mexico, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Macau, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Singapore, Japan, Moldova and Hongkong. These countries import bison on an irregular basis and smaller amounts.

Bison Prices

Marketing live animals and meat to the domestic and global markets through the strategies developed by the industry resulted in steady bison meat price increases between 2011 and 2017. The price increases were driven by strong consumer demand and the strong U.S. dollar. The decline in prices that began in 2018 was magnified by slowing demand, the uncertainties created by COVOC-19 and the drought of 2021. Prices have since showed some strength as there is some uncertainty with respect to animal supplies. Note: The prices below are annual averages. Prices are influenced by consumer demand, animal supply, and the quality of the animal. Final carcass price could be discounted if the established criteria have not been met. For more detailed pricing information go to: Canadian Bison Association :: Bison Market and Supply Update

Year	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Price per pound Grade “A” Bulls Hot Hanging Weight	$2.60	$3.20	$3.95	$3.90	$3.75	$4.10	$5.30	$6.10	$6.25	$5.75	$5.10	$4.50	$4.15	$4.50

Data collected by the Canadian Bison Association