FAQ - Crooked River Bison Ranch

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about us and our bison. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact us.

What does grass fed mean? Aren’t all bison grass fed?

As defined by the USDA, grass fed requires that ruminant animals be fed only grass and forage, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts and must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season.

Surprisingly, not all bison are 100% grass fed. While the majority of their diet may come from grasses, some producers chose to grain finish their bison.

Our bison are only fed native grasses and vegetation found on our ranch. During the winter months, their diet is supplemented with locally sourced grass hay. They are never fed any grain-based feed. This means that our bison meat has the full nutrient portfolio that you would expect from grass-fed animals. Trust us – our bison meat is good for you. We’ve explained why here.

Do you finish your bison on grain or corn?

No, our bison are never finished on grain or corn. Their diet consists of 100% grass.

Are the bison given any antibiotics or growth hormones?

We would never sacrifice the safety of our herd or the quality of our meat by giving our bison antibiotics or growth hormones. We have and will never use any form of antibiotics or growth hormones on our herd.

Do you raise the bison?

Yes, we raise the bison ourselves on our ranch just outside of Prineville, Oregon. Our bison are raised exclusively at our ranch and are humanely raised and field harvested directly on our property. We do not buy from other ranchers and then resell their products to you.

Is grass fed bison “gamey” tasting?

Our bison meat is very lean and has a unique flavor profile because of our ranching practices; we have not had any complaints about the taste of our bison meat. We are proud of the quality and taste of the meat we sell.

Are there any special cooking requirements needed for grass fed bison?

Our bison meat is much leaner than you may expect and some care is needed to bring out the best flavor. Overcooking may result in the meat becoming tough, and browning burger may require you to add a tiny amount of oil because there is little fat to actually brown the burger. You won’t need any special tools and you can still cook our meat the same way you would any other meat.

What if I have other questions?

If you have other questions about our ranch or our bison meat, please feel free to call or email us.