Herd groups are dominated by a matriarchal female, except during breeding. Adult buffalo eat approximately 35 pounds per day. Breeding occurs from mid-July to early September. Males are polygamous, but they do not form harems. During the rut males may lose up 300 pounds.
Most breeding is done by mature males five to eight years old.
Gestation ranges from 270 to 285 days. May. Twinning has not been documented. Nursing activity occurs primarily during the daylight hours and each nursing bout can last up to 20 minutes. Numerous state game agencies and federal agencies have been trying to maintain or develop representative herds of wild and free ranging sustainable populations of buffalo. They are trying to develop herds that provide recreational hunting, scientific research, and aesthetic uses with minimal management efforts.