Meat is an outstanding source of protein, providing all the essential amino acids, as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals.

As of 2022, the most consumed type of meat in the United States was broiler chicken, with an average yearly consumption of about 98.8 pounds per person,?? followed by beef at 58.8 pounds?? and pork at 51.1 pounds.

In stark contrast, according to the National Bison Association, Americans eat a mere 0.07 pounds of bison meat per person yearly. This is unfortunate, given the numerous benefits of bison meat compared to traditional meats. Here are five reasons to consider making the switch.

The Five Reasons

#1 – Conventional Farm Animals Have Diet and Health Issues: Most chickens, pigs, and cattle are fed a diet mainly consisting of genetically modified soy, corn, and other by-products. This diet is particularly problematic in cattle because their natural diet entails eating grass. The grain-based diet often leads to diseases like rumenitis and "feedlot Polio" due to improper digestion and absorption of these foods. As a result, it's normal for feedlot cattle to be sick??. — Source

#2 – Overuse of Antibiotics: The use of antibiotics in agriculture began in the 1940s to treat sick animals. However, they quickly became a standard treatment as they promoted fast growth and combated diseases common in feedlots, such as acidosis, a metabolic condition caused by a high-grain diet. A study by Zhang in 2021 stated, "Antibiotic residues in meat may lead to several adverse health effects, such as the development of multidrug?resistant microbial strains, allergic and anaphylactic reactions, and the disruption of normal intestinal flora." — Source

#3 – Stricter Standards for Buffalo: The USDA regulations for buffalo are stricter, disallowing hormone and antibiotic treatments common in conventional beef production. Buffalo are almost always grass-fed, resulting in higher quality meat. However, consumers should be cautious of labels, as some buffalo meat may be grass-fed but grain-finished. — Source

#4 – Buffalo Is a Leaner Meat With Less Calories: Buffalo meat is lower in calories and fat but higher in protein compared to beef. For example, a 3-4 ounce serving of bison ribeye has 177 calories and 6 grams of fat, compared to a typical beef ribeye with 265 calories and 17 grams of fat. Bison also offers more omega-3 fats than beef and a better omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. — Source