Sorry Folks but it just didn't happen. Beefalo did not corrupt today's American Bison Herds with cattle genes. Yes, some of the American Public Herds do have a little cattle blood coursing through their veins, by allowing some bison-cattle hybrids into the Buffalo Herds occurred years ago, during the restoration of the Bison (1880's-1910)
Beefalo are a modern creation, developed in the 1970's, but journalists seem to love the word "Beefalo". Recently the Arizona Bison that invaded the Grand Canyon have been called Beefalo. The typical statement is; "Today's American Buffalo with the exception of a few herds are not pure. They have Cattle genes, they are "Beefalo." These animals are nowhere near Beefalo, which contain
17 to 37.5 bison. There correct classification of Buffalo with a little Cattle DNA should be "Bison Hybrids" animals containing far more bison content.
If you want to blame somebody for the corruption of the American Buffalo, blame William F Hornaday, and his the National Bison Association who worked to restore herds to the National Bison Range or the Wichita Wildlife Refuge. They bought Bison from Zoos, Parks and Ranchers and accepted donations of animals to create these herds. Animals were so few that some were indeed crossbreds. Blame Gordon W. Lillie "Pawnee Bill" for deliberately breeding Buffalo bulls to cattle to create more Buffalo. Blame the old-time Cattalo Breeders, men like Charlie Goodnight, and Buffalo Jones who saved the Buffalo and created "Cattalo". The reestablishment of the American Buffalo was thanks to these men, yet today they seem to be viewed as "corruptors" not men of restoration.
So don't blame Beefalo. American Buffalo with a little cattle DNA should be called "Bison Hybrids", or "Impure Bison" but quit calling them Beefalo.
Beefalo are a modern creation, developed in the 1970's, but journalists seem to love the word "Beefalo". Recently the Arizona Bison that invaded the Grand Canyon have been called Beefalo. The typical statement is; "Today's American Buffalo with the exception of a few herds are not pure. They have Cattle genes, they are "Beefalo." These animals are nowhere near Beefalo, which contain
17 to 37.5 bison. There correct classification of Buffalo with a little Cattle DNA should be "Bison Hybrids" animals containing far more bison content.
If you want to blame somebody for the corruption of the American Buffalo, blame William F Hornaday, and his the National Bison Association who worked to restore herds to the National Bison Range or the Wichita Wildlife Refuge. They bought Bison from Zoos, Parks and Ranchers and accepted donations of animals to create these herds. Animals were so few that some were indeed crossbreds. Blame Gordon W. Lillie "Pawnee Bill" for deliberately breeding Buffalo bulls to cattle to create more Buffalo. Blame the old-time Cattalo Breeders, men like Charlie Goodnight, and Buffalo Jones who saved the Buffalo and created "Cattalo". The reestablishment of the American Buffalo was thanks to these men, yet today they seem to be viewed as "corruptors" not men of restoration.
So don't blame Beefalo. American Buffalo with a little cattle DNA should be called "Bison Hybrids", or "Impure Bison" but quit calling them Beefalo.
This is a Beefalo. Beefalo were developed by DC Basolo in the Early 1970's.
American Buffalo. Some may have a stray cattle gene or two. CJ "Buffalo" Jones with two of his Cattalo. Some cattalo were allowed into the restored Buffalo Herds at the turn of the last century.
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