Thanksgiving Alternative

Even though it is the traditional Thanksgiving main course there are alternatives to turkey. Dave Carter with the National Bison Association says that bison meat is a great way to celebrate and the bison definitely has a wow factor.

CARTER: There's a real wow factor to it. And there's a wow factor if you are just part of the public we have somebody that said they have a beautiful ranch and they are surrounded by beautiful cattle ranches and they say it's fun to watch people come driving down the road and go by all those beautiful ranches and all of a sudden they see his place with those buffalo out there and stop and the cameras come out.

Carter says there is a wow factor about raising the animal as well.

CARTER: There's something about the animal - its history, its heritage - but there's just the personality that they have. You go to bed at the end of the day, you're tired but there's just a good feeling of being a part of raising this animal and being part of it.

Ben Franklin in a letter to his daughter suggested the turkey as the American symbol. A massive bison seems to be more fitting. And Carter says what was once almost extinct has returned.

CARTER: We're up close to 500-thousand in North America. Getting close to half a million. It's been a great success story of restoration because about 120 years ago there were maybe 600 bison left alive in the world and bringing these animals back and of course the public herds have played a big role. Yellowstone Custer State Park and the like, the tribal folks have done a good job but boy I tell you what 90% of those animals are out there on private ranches and that's where we feel this relationship with consumers is so important.

That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.