The Big Rock Bison is a recipient of the 2021 Ontario Pasture Award. The bison producer receives $250, and a bag of forage seed sponsored by MAPLESEED and the Ontario Forage Council.
For more than six years, Mark and Heather Shouldice have built Big Rock Bison, an environmentally minded bison-raising operation near Shallow Lake in Grey County.
The Big Rock Bison operation includes 140 bison, which they stay out 12 months of the year in a low stress environment with room to roam and be social.
“The bisons are built for and thrive in the winter, but we do have sacrifice pasture for wet / mud season, so typically the bison move out on fresh pasture May 7th, and this is when we stop feeding hay for the season”.
The 150 acres of pastureland is set up with 9 paddocks to practice rotational grazing, allowing sufficient time for pasture to rest, re-grow and recover before the bison go back on that paddock.
The Shouldice’s believe that healthy pastures and soil creates a diverse and strong ecosystem. “Healthy pastures = healthy bison = healthy meat = maximum profit,” states Mark. “We try to prevent pasture from getting grazed below 4” in forage height, in order to maintain maximum growth and health and prevent erosion due to rain and/or wind.”
Ray Robertson, Manager of the Ontario Forage Council, commented that the Big Rock Bison is not only unique in the area, but they also demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of a well-managed pasture operation.