Grade

Grade American bison is a management and recordkeeping term rather than a separate biological breed. It usually means the animal is not registered, lacks complete pedigree documentation, or does not meet a registry or program standard for a named or verified line. A grade bison may be fully bison in appearance and use, showing the familiar dark coat, high shoulder hump, beard, and heavy head, but its ancestry is not documented enough for every breeding or conservation purpose.

Grade status is common in livestock systems where useful animals are kept outside formal registration. For commercial herds, a grade bison may still be valuable for meat production, herd replacement, or local breeding if temperament, fertility, soundness, and health records are acceptable. For seed stock, conservation placement, or public education herds, the missing paperwork becomes more important. Owners should keep clear notes on source, age, sex, health testing, movements, and any known parentage, because those records can prevent confusion later.

Colors: Black-Brown, Brown with White Face, Dark Brown, Golden Brown, Light Brown, White