SUSTAINABLE RANCHING
Durham Ranch Brings Back the Buffalo

By Staff Writer

Most of us, when we think of the American Buffalo conger up images deep in our collective past of Cowboys and Indians roaming the vast American prairies before the west was officially won over. It is safe to say that Bison was America's first red meat before the beef-cow came along to dominate the market and monopolize the term "steak". Though bison were hunted to near extinction by the turn of the twentieth century, they've made a remarkable come back with the help and dedication of businesses like Durham Ranch in Wyoming. Soon American Bison may be giving beef-cows a run for their money in the red meat category as a hearty, healthy, and delicious alternative.

Durham Ranch's Bison

Owned and operated since the mid-1960's by the Flocchini family, the 55,000 acres which comprise Durham Ranch has sustained bison since the late 1950's. Their ranch presently has 4,300 pure bred American Bison with 1,750 mother cows. By using a "Time Controlled, Planned Grazing" program they hope to increase their herd size to 4,500.

The bison appears to be the ideal animal to raise in the harsh Wyoming climate and those at Durham Ranch would not want to be raising anything else. Due to their independent nature the bison are handled as little as possible, without artificial growth stimulants or hormones under completely natural circumstances. The Holistic Management system used at Durham Ranch is able to grow healthy animals and produce high quality meat while improving the quality of the land where the buffalo graze.

The Flocchini family is dedicated to returning the land to its' past splendor. Where history reveals to us a countryside with tremendous grasslands of unlimited potential, the environment is stable and balanced, wild life is visible and healthy, creeks and springs flow, and the land is covered with a complexity of grasses. With a commitment to this style of management, Durham Ranch is convinced that they are in the process of making this dream a reality, so that many generations beyond ours are able to enjoy life as we have.