Diseases of Man & Beast
Written by Colton Jones
On the ranch, we are fortunate our lifestyle permits social distancing with ease. Camping trips on the river, fishing expeditions and a trip to check on the herd can all be done without seeing another human. And for a moment, creates a sense of normalcy.
I’ve always been infatuated with space, and I have to admit, five months ago I didn’t think I could appreciate it any more than I do now. We are in drought conditions on the ranch. Dams are low and some are empty. This makes water and pasture monitoring critical. Tanks need to be checked daily, which has provided me an excuse to spend time with the buffalo.
While checking on the herd, the biologist in me can’t help but search for relationships between man and beast. I try to make my rounds in the morning before it gets hot. The herd also utilizes the cooler temperatures to move and graze. They look happy, healthy, and carefree. The environment that they reside in provides large expanses of land that allow them to behave as evolution has intended.
In contrast, we now know that human influence on the environment can dictate our ability to contract, and/or combat disease in a negative manner.
Much like large highly populated cities, feedlots act as a vector in transmitting diseases. Diseases such as mycoplasma (respiratory infection), pink eye and Johne’s disease (intestinal fatal infection) have a higher infection rate among beef and buffalo in feedlots, as well as large commercial dairy operations. The close proximity from one individual to another and unsanitary conditions, increases the chance of transmission. This, along with a poor diet consisting of grain-based feed for animals and sugar-based diets in humans, hinders the body’s natural ability to fend off disease.
Because both man and beasts’ environments have been so greatly altered in the name of “Big Ag”, both are becoming increasingly dependent on pharmaceuticals, many of which can have negative side effects. Prescriptions for heart disease and diabetes are among the top prescribed drugs in America. Antibiotics and “pour-ons” are most common in confined beef and buffalo operations.
Climate change has also manipulated the way in which some diseases spread. Lyme disease, waterborne diseases and mosquito borne diseases are seeing more opportunistic environments caused by the increasingly dramatic changes in weather. Poor air quality has increased the number of asthmatic patients along with a decrease in available, safe, drinking water.
Our commercial food supply system’s vulnerability has become exposed as it travels through a gauntlet of similar man created issues. There is hope as consumers are becoming increasingly aware of how their food is produced, from the roots up.
During my time with the herd, I always try to make a conscious effort to be thankful. Thankful for my time with them. Thankful for the privacy and vastness of the plains. And thankful for a particular moment that provides solace and gives me hope for restoration of all man and beasts.
Photo Credit: Jill O'Brien
Mr Coltan,you seem so happy to be around the Buffalo,and Jill takes beautiful photo’s.To Native Americans Buffalo are made by our Creator,they are sacred t many tribes.The White Buffalo especially.You take special care of the Buffalo and the babies are adorable.Your meat is the best without question,this year will go down in history for the things that have occured.Way back it was the useless slaughter o buffalo by the washicue’s.But you created something no one has done before you,you gave the buffalo ground to roam,their very healthy and happy,the coats are beautiful,the way buffalo should look.For this i thank you,you gave us our history back,and meat that is so good,your heart is in the right place.
Thank You to ALL that you do, all of us appreciate it very much.
Great read Colton and as always, beautiful photos by Jill. We came across you almost three years now and since our first order of WIB bison, we said good bye to store bought industrialized meat and you have become our sole source. Not only is it delicious, but healthy too. As you wrote Colton, the poor diet of the animals in the industrialized agriculture world results in a poor quality product. Thankfully, WIB raises and harvests bison the RIGHT way. All of our friends who have dined at our house rave about the WIB bison burgers and steaks. They bring side dishes and always ask if we could grill bison again. All our international business colleagues returning overseas and spread the word about WIB bison. Lastly, if that were not convincing enough, I’ll conclude with the comments from my primary care physician: “cholesterol looking great, bp and ekg great, blood panel great – whatever you are doing Chris, keep it up.” And all I have done is sole source our red meat from Wild Idea Bison and enjoy more of it. Thanks to all of you there at WIB for all you do for the Great Plains, for the bison and for maintaining a standard of excellence, “beyond organic” with your bison meat. Cheers to you!!
You nailed it. Wake up, people.