Our Buffalo
There
is perhaps no animal that symbolizes the Wild West than the buffalo.
And Hartsel Springs Ranch is one of the few places left where
you will find buffalo roaming the plains. At over 100 head of buffalo, Hartsel Springs Ranch is in the largest top five percent
of buffalo ranches in the world.
The great American Buffalo is the largest
land mammal in North America since the
end of the Ice Age. Estimates of the pre-European herd size vary from 30,000,000
to 70,000,000 animals, and they ranged
over most of North America.
There are three subspecies of buffalo:
the Plains Buffalo, Wood Buffalo and the
European Wisent.
After being reduced to a herd of no more
than 1,500 individuals in the mid to late
1800s, legal protection of the buffalo in
National Parks and private preserves,
along with individuals raising buffalo on
their own land, has helped restore the
buffalo to over 350,000 animals.
Current estimates place the U.S. herd at
270,000 animals, with most of the
production occuring on private ranches
like Hartsel Springs Ranch. In 1996, Hartsel
Springs Ranch took the initiative to reintroduce the Buffalo so
herds would once again roam South Park. Today, numerous herds
can been seen in the valleys and plains of our Ranch.
Tourists
are often seen along the side of U.S Highway 24 or Colorado State
Highway 9 trying to get a photograph or sneak peak of an American
icon.
These
animals are impressive indeed. A full-grown bull may weigh in
at 2,000 pounds and can live to be 30 years. And with horns on
all buffalo, the sight of these animals is nothing short of inspirational.
Capable of running at speeds of 30 miles per hour, these four-legged
creatures are completely at home in South Park. The protein-rich
grass combined with ample water supply
provides buffalo with an ideal living environment.
Buffalo
are not domesticated and need to be respected. That is why we
offer guided buffalo tours hosted by experienced Ranchers. Further,
buffalo are located in designated and fenced tracts of land away
from housing developments. So while you may enjoy a view of buffalo
from your home, you won’t have to worry about encountering
one in your backyard.
Buffalo
meat is particularly healthy. With the recent craze for high protein,
low carb diets, buffalo meat is a perfect dietary choice. In addition
to being very tasty, buffalo meat contains far less fat and cholesterol
that beef from cattle or chicken. In fact, here are some interesting
statistics:
|
Buffalo |
Beef |
Pork |
chicken
(skinless) |
| Fat |
2.42 g |
9.28 g |
9.66 g |
7.41
g |
| Calories |
143
|
211
|
212 |
190
|
| Milligrams
of Cholesterol per 100 grams of cooked lean meat |
82
|
86 |
86 |
89
|
