Bison Producers
Bison Census 1996 – 2021
The 2021 census reported 149,539 bison on 989 farms and ranches. This reflects an 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
| 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% |
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.
Farms and Ranches Reporting Bison
| 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 | 2021 % Change from 2016 | |
| BC | 57 | 98 | 121 | 71 | 55 | 48 | -12.7% |
| AB | 334 | 950 | 869 | 571 | 445 | 472 | +6.1% |
| SK | 175 | 562 | 597 | 352 | 303 | 308 | +1.6% |
| MB | 73 | 157 | 166 | 108 | 86 | 82 | - 4.6% |
| ON | 46 | 58 | 71 | 60 | 49 | 52 | +6.1% |
| QC | 56 | 58 | 69 | 45 | 34 | 26 | -23.5% |
| Atlantic | 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 | |
| BC | 110 | 91 | 105 | 130 | 118 | 310 | +162.7% |
| AB | 68 | 84 | 112 | 101 | 123 | 139 | +13.0% |
| SK | 40 | 62 | 96 | 112 | 133 | 172 | +29.3% |
| MB | 63 | 86 | 118 | 131 | 163 | 143 | - 12.3% |
| ON | 51 | 65 | 58 | 39 | 38 | 57 | +50.0% |
| QC | 40 | 72 | 63 | 53 | 29 | 65 | +124.1% |
| Atlantic | 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.
Contact the CBA:
306-522-4766
