In general, bison meat is considerably leaner than beef, with about half the fat and calories.  It’s also higher in protein.

Using the USDA National Nutrient Database* to compare generalized statistics on the “lean” (i.e. meat as opposed to fat) in raw bison ribeyes vs. conventional Choice beef ribeyes provides this data:

The Nutrient Database provides additional nutritional content should you be looking for specific info, the above are just some of the highlights.

In addition to the above health benefits, bison also possesses a richer, sweeter beef-like flavor and a coarser grain.  It’s a great substitute for beef in most recipes, as long as its lower fat content and faster cooking time are taken into account.

- Question Submitted by Walter

*as of 6/29/11