American Beefalo
World Registry

2225 Old Stage Rd.
Dillon, Montana 59725

(406) 683-6564
Fax: (406) 683-6564

The Breed of Tomorrow is Here Today

The American Beefalo World Registry is the official Beefalo breed registry of the United States, Canada, and the international arena. It is the official Beefalo breed organization of the National Cattlemen's Association and has representation on the NCA Purebreeds Council.

The ABWR offers several services to Beefalo breeders, including a bi-monthly newsletter, promotional materials, and a registration service. The ABWR currently maintains three different registries: The Herdbook Registry, Beefalo Ancestry Registry, and Meat Registry.

In 1985, Beefalo was approved for public sale by the USDA under the stamp "Beefalo Beef." Now producers can market a product lower in fat and cholesterol and consumers can be confident of their Beefalo purchase.

The Meat Registry serves as the official registry for "Beefalo Beef" as allowed by the USDA's exclusive marketing program. All animals in the Meat Registry must be at least one-half (1/2) Beefalo and not more than full-blood Beefalo. In accordance with the USDA guidelines, animals must be registered in the ABWR Meat Registry.

As more and more breeders and consumers recognize the advantages of Beefalo, aggressive marketing efforts will be implemented in meat markets, groceries, and restaurants. With the trend toward healthier eating firmly established, Beefalo is poised to move to the forefront.

Background of the
American Beefalo World Registry

The formation of the American Beefalo World Registry has been an evolutionary process as the ABWR is the culmination and unification of work done by individuals in three former Beefalo organizations: The American Beefalo Association, the World Beefalo Association, and the International Beefalo Breeders Registry. The unification of the these three organizations in 1983 truly marked Beefalo a unified breed and a collective effort toward the positive promotion of the breed.

The ABWR is comprised of approximately 850 members, some annual and some lifetime memberships. Of the 850 members, about 400 are actively registering cattle each year. The business affairs of the association are directed by a 15-member Board of Directors. Directors are elected to the board by the general membership with three directors serving from each region and three directors elected at-large. The board then elects the officers of the association for one year terms.

Approximately 50,000 Beefalo cattle have been registered in the past. New registration currently applied for on an annual basis number about 1,000 with increases expected in the coming years. The ABWR maintains three different registries at its corporate office in Montana.

The Herdbook Registry is made up of animals which are the result of a traditional up-breeding program using higher percentage bull and/or cows. Animals in this registry are one-quarter (1/4) blood Beefalo (females only), one-half (1/2) blood Beefalo, three-quarters (3/4) blood Beefalo, seven-eights (7/8) blood Beefalo, purebred Beefalo and fullblood Beefalo.

A fullblood Beefalo is an animal which is three-eights (3/8) bison and five-eights (5/8) bovine. Parentage on fullblood Beefalo must be proven in order to register. Fullblood Beefalo are achieved by mating a fullblood sire with a fullblood dam or by mating animals registered in the Beefalo Ancestry Registry. The only requirements is that fullblood Beefalo be the exact percentage of three-eights (3/8) bison and five-eights (5/8) bovine.

The Meat Registry is designed for Beefalo producers to register their potential slaughter animals so the meat can be sold as Beefalo Beef in accordance with USDA regulations. The requirements of the program are that the animals which enter the program to be sold as "Beefalo Beef" must be registered in the ABWR Meat Registry. All animals must be at least one-half (1/2) beefalo and not more than fullblood Beefalo.

The Beefalo Ancestry Registry is for unusual Bison Cross percentage animals and Bison Hybrids. Animals which do not fit the Herdbook Registry fractions or are not the result of mating of a Herdbook registered sire and dam would usually be registered in the Beefalo Ancestry Registry. Proof of parentage through DNA tests is also required.