Last week our speaker was Jennifer Barfield, PhD, and CSU Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. Her research focuses on assisted reproduction in bison and cattle. She also manages the Foothills Bison Conservation herd in Northern Colorado. Her presentation Soapstone Prairie and the Critters focused on the Laramie Foothills (Yellowstone) Bison.
A map of Red Mountain, Soapstone and the Meadows Spring Ranch highlighted the 2700-acre bison pastures located near the public entrance to Soapstone. The next slide showed the interdisciplinary approach utilizing animal science research, assisted reproduction, public perception and impacts of the herd on the local ecological system. Next, a video featured “happy” bison as they entered the Soapstone pasture in 2015.
The project started with 10 adults (from the Yellowstone bison) to the current 63 adults. In the last few years quarantined bison from CSU have been added. Natural breeding frequently occurs and “assisted breeding” is done under the supervision of our speaker.
A slide reminds of us of how efforts to eradicate bison almost succeeded but through the efforts of many programs and individuals the bison are returning to the American West. Bison were the first species to achieve federal protection.
Yellowstone bison have some cattle genetics and 60% of all bison are infected with Brucellosis. Although not injurious to adult bison, this bacterium multiplies at the time of reproduction. Jennifer’s research involves the care (disinfecting) of both sperm and ovary during assisted reproduction and in vitro fertilization. An interesting video showed the developing in vitro embryos from which the best can be selected for further growth into fetuses. The first successful bison born utilizing this process now resides at the Bronx Zoo in NYC.
Special access to the Soapstone herd has been provided to indigenous peoples (especially the Southern Plains Trust) and local STEM students. This herd (as well as many others) has been a source for various indigenous people in the American West and is largely directed by their councils.
Questions followed -
- What is the natural history of Brucellosis in bison?
- Does CSU follow up after placement? A: No
- Does the herd receive nutritional supplements to the native grasses? A: Yes, but they could do ok on the natural nutrition available at Soapstone
- How do the bison affect the Prairie? A: Ecologic studies are ongoing on deer and grasshoppers. Continued biodiversity is the goal.
- Does Foothills Bison Conservation interact with commercial (eg, Terry Bison Ranch) bison operations? A: There exists a cooperative and healthy exchange
Many members have visited Soapstone and viewed the herd, so this presentation was of special interest to today’s audience and another example of the benefits we all share because of Colorado State University.