Cow/Bison Hybrid

[PLTannery]

Anyone ever AI'd for one? Our neighbor had one that was marked like a hereford with a bison body shape. Interesting animal. Just curious what the success rate would be for covering beef cows by AI with Bison semen? Calf size? Calving issues because of change in body shape?

 

[Lucky_P]

Like this?
http://www.pbase.com/janmyers/image/130133523

 

[Taurus]

I think its bad idea using a bison semen on a cow. It will either kills the cow or the calf. You have to get a bison x cow hybrid is via bison cow x domestic bull.

 

[Lucky_P]

Majority of the first bison/cattle hybrids were made by breeding bison bulls to domestic cows. Should be minimal to no issues with regard to the cow herself, but there is a higher incidence of spontaneous abortion in the calves from the bison bull x domestic cow mating than with a bovine bull x bison cow mating.
Either way will work - you just may end up with a lower percentage of live-born calves from the bison bull X cow mating.

 

[Taurus]

Majority of the first bison/cattle hybrids were made by breeding bison bulls to domestic cows. Should be minimal to no issues with regard to the cow herself, but there is a higher incidence of spontaneous abortion in the calves from the bison bull x domestic cow mating than with a bovine bull x bison cow mating.
Either way will work - you just may end up with a lower percentage of live-born calves from the bison bull X cow mating.

Yes majority of first bison hybrids were bison bull to domesticated cows, but that experiment has failed. The second attempt on creating beefalo has succeed by running bulls with bison cows and you have high percentage of live-born calves and zero health problems in both mother and calf.

There are few health issues with domesticated cow carrying a hybrid calf. Fluid buildups, protein poisoning, calving problems (due to the calf being too large), high percentage abortions, late term abortions, non-viable or weak viable calves and possible death in the cow/or calf. If you got a live calf, it is 100% sterile in bull calves where the calves from bison cow/domesticated bulls matings resulted into fertile bull calves.

That is why the first attempt of creating cattalo (bison bull to domesticated cows) has failed. The second attempt on creating beefalo via bison cows to domesticated bull has succeed (almost succeed). Majority of today's beefalo comes from bison cows x domesticated bulls.

 

[PLTannery]

Like that Lucky_p but with more Highland-like hair than Bison type hair. She was a Hereford red with a light brindling.

Sounds like a Bison Bull x cow pairing is not ideal, That it is safer the other way. Guess I'll have to look into it more.