The animals are promiscuous in mating habits but usually only the large, mature bulls do the breeding. Young and undersized bulls are driven from the herd to linger on the outskirts and await with anticipation the opportunity to participate whenever the herd bull is off guard. As with range cattle, a scale of social dominance is established with each bull next highest dominating those below him. The young one normally is weaned in late fall, but occasionally it continues to nurse until the arrival of the next calf. Sometimes cows breed only in alternate years.
Sexual maturity is reached in the third year.
According to Cahalane, cows have remained productive for 40 years indicating a life span of at least 45 years. At present, the plains bison has little economic importance. There is some demand for its flesh as food for man, but the temperament of the beast will not permit its wide replacement of cattle. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This page is copyrighted 1994 by Texas Parks and Wildlife, Nongame and Urban Program.