> They keep the herd at about 2300 head. They have determined that that is
> the optimal size that the preserve can support. The extras go to your
> plate!
We have a small (70-100 head) research herd here in Iowa kept in a 700
acre paddock. Every year, they ship in and out individuals from other
federal herds around the country. It's a genetically diverse herd that
is used to keep ahead of any genetic issues that do crop up. Every
year they test each one and the "similars" get shipped off and other
diverse one get shipped in. When they started, there were only a
couple of identified strains.
At one point, their goal was to have every variant present here, but
in order to, they would have to expand the paddock beyond 700 acres.
So there are a couple of research herds like this that share duties.
As this is a research facility, they try to keep the per acre density
down, so they can avoid having to supplement food with hay bales.
There are also elk in this plot. On occasion, they will run a
harvester over a small part for seed testing and sorting and to
simulate a higher density animal population. They maintain a density
that would be close to what it was historically like 200 years ago.
Throughout the entire facility, they do controlled burns, but in the
paddock, they limit it to small sections to not upset the apple cart.
This is at Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge, near Prairie City,
Iowa. Just east of Des Moines, and about 20 miles off of Interstate
80. You get to drive right through the middle of the paddock and if
you are lucky, the bison will be up at the road.
AG Schnozz
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