Bison management courses might be offered at SDSU
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota State University could soon be teaching students how to raise bison, a species that once populated the North American plains and was hunted to near extinction.
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The university wants to offer two courses. Introduction to Bison Management would provide the foundations of bison management and production theory. Advanced Bison Production would focus on bison management and production techniques specific to bison as well as explore current bison-production systems.
The South Dakota Board of Regents will consider SDSU's request to add the certificate during its business meeting on Thursday, April 3, at Northern State University in Aberdeen.
SDSU would partner with Custer State Park and Bad River Ranches (Turner Enterprises), both of which have large bison herds. The annual fall roundup at Custer State Park draws thousands of visitors.
The Center of Excellence for Bison Studies opened in 2020 at the SDSU West River Research and Extension offices in Rapid City as a collaboration between SDSU, National Bison Association and National Buffalo Foundation. The Inter Tribal Bison Council is headquartered at Rapid City.
Domestic production of bison is at an all-time high in the United States since the era of markethunting, according to SDSU's application.
'The estimated herd size in the United States is approximately 400,000, with 192,477 of those animals owned in private herds located in 1,986 private ranches across the US,' it states. 'Bison meat has entered the US meat industry market share and gains more of that share every year, currently earning premium prices compared to beef.'
The request notes, 'Bison Studies is a growing field in academia, and South Dakota State University is uniquely positioned to utilize its existing resources to offer this course. By housing the Center of Excellence for Bison Studies, two dedicated bison faculty, and as the official research partner with the largest bison producer in the world (Turner Enterprises), SDSU has strategically placed itself at the forefront of bison research and teaching capabilities.'
SDSU's plan calls for offering the introduction course during spring semesters and the more-intensive production course during fall semesters.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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