Buffalo proves beneficial
Meat lover found great alternative to doctor’s order

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Ed Bauer discovered buffalo meat in a unique way, and then liked it so much he decided to start his own herd. -- Staff photo by Taylor

Oct. 13, 2005 - Around 20 years ago, Ed Bauer, a certified public accountant (CPA) in La Grange, was treated for severe cholesterol problems, which necessitated having a stent placed in his chest so his blood could flow better.  

�You can go back to Fayette County and eat that greasy babecue and more beef and you�ll be dead in six months,� his doctor in Austin told Bauer. His instructions allowed one ounce of beef a week, or �I could save up and have a little steak, once a month,� laughed Bauer.

Obviously, for a man who had enjoyed beef and red meat all of his life, this would mean big changes for Bauer.

His “alternative” red meats included bear, moose, deer, rabbits or goats … none a favorite! As if that wasn’t enough of a problem, Bauer didn’t even like chicken. He had to try and find an alternative meat that would meet his dietary needs, as well as his taste buds.

According to Bauer, he had a client that didn’t have the cash to pay his bill … he did have American Buffalo Bison. After reading information concerning the American Buffalo, Bauer decided to start his own herd to provide the meat supply for his family and others.

Information on the animals explains that there are two subspecies of Buffalo Bison: the Wood Bison which is mainly in Canada, and the Plains American Buffalo Bison which is what you find in Texas.

Two decades ago, most people associated buffalo herds with old Western movies, cowboys, and Native American tribes. Most of the time, the animals seemed mean and were usually involved in some type of a stampede!

Bauer noted he believes that buffalo are smarter than cows and very interesting animals. While his animals aren’t interested in being “touched or hand-fed,” Bauer said he can walk among his herd without problems. He has about 40 of the animals, included three bulls.

The gestation period for buffalo is nine months, and a grown female usually weighs in between 800 and 1,200 pounds, said Bauer, with the average running between 900 and 1,100 pounds. The bulls weigh in around 1,800 pounds, with the newborn calves weigh about 50 pounds, on an average.

Most of the animals stand about 5’6” to 5’8” in height. One thing people might not realize is that, according to Bauer, most of the animals can jump a five-foot fence, flat-footed! This brought up the fact that good facilities and fencing are absolutely necessary to keep buffalo in their own pastures.

While looking at the buffalo from a distance, their fur looks thick and coarse; yet Bauer explained that it is actually very fine and thick. The fur falls out in the warmer weather, and grows back when it starts to cool off.

Bauer noted that from what he has observed, if a buffalo and cow should breed, the offspring has the “worse genetics of both animals … ill tempered and wild!”

Meat cuts are the same as for cows, said Bauer, with the buffalo dressing out at about 48 percent vs. 52 percent for cows. Where there is marbling in cattle cuts, all of the fat is on the outside of the buffalo meat, making it a healthier meat since it can be trimmed away and not eaten.

While the buffalo feed like wild animals on grass and plants, they won’t eat most things that even cattle avoid. Bauer offers his animals hay, when needed, along with mineral blocks. He said the buffalo are a “herd” animal; they don’t like to be alone.

Bauer is proud to be a founding member of the Texas Bison Association, and its motto is “preserving the legend.”  

(For more information on American Buffalo Bison: www.texasbison.org)