Bison may roam Metro Vancouver-owned Ashcroft ranch
Herds of mighty bison may inhabit the grounds of the Metro Vancouver–owned Ashcroft Ranch in the future.
Staff will evaluate the feasibility of a number of livestock options, including bison, for the 4,200-hectare rural property, which is currently home to cattle, according to a report prepared by Dawn Ross, the regional district’s Ashcroft Ranch project coordinator. The report is part of the agenda of the Metro Vancouver agriculture committee on Thursday (November 5). The regional district purchased the ranch in 2000 to develop part of it into a landfill, but this plan was later abandoned due to opposition from First Nations.
Speaking as a bison rancher and not as treasurer of the B.C. Bison Association, Isobel Vere of Merritt said that Metro Vancouver is welcome to join the industry. “There is a shortage [of bison] across the whole of Canada because demand for the meat now is really coming on stream,” Vere told the Straight by phone. “It’s a meat that’s really low in calories, low in cholesterol, low in fat, but good in iron.”
Comments
2 Comments
Fern
Nov 5, 2009 at 7:53am
Good quality agricultural projects would be great as long as it is run like a business and not just another sink hole for public money. It is time the government started operating on a much more accountable system, using our money more wisely than at present. With all the options and resources at their disposal, turning a profit should be a piece of cake for any project like this. Here is a challenge to see if it can be done.
Melodie
Nov 5, 2009 at 3:12pm
What next - cat and dog farms for agricultural gain - come on - one day millions more (like vegetarians) will realize that animals are not commodities to be bought and sold for a profit. Let's leave this animal alone too before it becomes extinct from man's insatiable appetite to the point of gluttony and money!