Most of the information available on bison nutrition has been extrapolated from beef cattle requirements, bison forage selectivity, current knowledge of the bison digestive system and growth and seasonal adaptations. Specific energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements have yet to be fully developed. When feeding bison, several concepts must be understood: a) bison are ruminants, and all diets must be forage based prior to considering the use of grain supplementation and b) weight loss will happen at certain times of the year and planning is required prior to such periods.
It's important to read through the entire Basic Nutrition of Bison document prior to making any decisions on year-round feeding program.
To learn about feed testing, review the Feed Sampling and Analysis document.