This week's column is written by Chef Ron Christian, who has been a chef for 30 years. He is a CNC Professional Cook instructor, who has also taught at BCIT, Vancouver Community College and has worked all over the world. If you have any questions or comments, e-mail [email protected].
Large herds of giant migrating beasts roamed the open Prairies from Canada to the Great Plains of the United States.
Bison, or more commonly known as buffalo were of such large numbers at one time that their stampedes across the Prairie sounded like the roll of distant thunder.
Buffalo origins trace back to a similar Eurasian bison species, which crossed the Bering Strait in prehistoric times.
Two types of American Bison have evolved; the Wood Bison and the Plains Bison.
An adult male buffalo stands nearly 6.5 feet tall at the shoulders and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds. At one time nearly an estimated 60 million Bison roamed from Mexico clear to Canada. The bison provided the mainstay of the diet of the Plains-dwelling Native Americans.
When the herds migrated with the seasons, so too did the Native American tribes such as the Lakota, Sioux and the Cheyenne.
The arrival of the white man and the railroad just about made the buffalo extinct. The infamous Buffalo Bill once bragged that he killed 4,200 buffalo in 17 months to feed all railroad labourers. Train operators would slow their locomotives so passengers could sport shoot the bison from the train windows. The carcasses were never collected but left to rot.
By the end of the 19th century, the bison population in America had been reduced to only 800 animals. Today the American bison runs freely along the protected parklands and private Prairies. Today the bison number is an estimated number of 200,000 strong. This number will ensure the survival of the species.
Comparison of ground meats
Animal water calories protein total fat saturated monosaturated polysaturated cholesterol
(grams) (grams) (grams)(grams)(grams)(mg)
Bison 71.59 146 20.23 7.21 2.9172.753 0.336 55
Grass
fed
Beef 69.50 175 20.00 10.00 4.058 4.353 0.344 65
90%
Lean
Pork 64.67 218 17.99 16.00 5.362 7.280 2.235 68
84 %
Lean
Turkey 71.97 149 17.46 8.26 2.250 3.100 2.000 79
Chicken 73.24 143 17.44 8.10 2.301 3.660 1.508 86
More to follow
