Where the Buffalo Roam: Green Acres Buffalo Farm

BY JESSIE SHOOK

When imagining where the buffalo roam, does South Alabama come to mind? For Weston Spivey and his grandad, a buffalo farm was an opportunity to fill a need for Alabama. This family-owned farm, located in Slocomb, Alabama, is providing bison meat to restaurants and meat markets throughout the state.

“The primary purpose of our farm is to raise quality bison for the harvest of meat,” said Weston Spivey, owner of Green Acres Buffalo Farm. “We are also equally dedicated to raising quality animals for purchase of herd animals to our colleagues in other states.”

Raising buffalo for meat is a unique but growing industry. The meat is more red in color, without the marbling you will find in beef. “It’s a leaner, more nutrient-packed meat,” Spivey said. “We have grass-fed and grain-fed, so the fat content is more natural and sweeter than regular beef if your program is correct.”

While bison meat does not have the demand of beef, Spivey expressed that bison meat has its place in the agriculture industry. “Buffalo meat is nearly cholesterol-free and is extremely heart-healthy,” Spivey added. “We have had many customers through the years purchase our products for this reason.”

Weston Spivey and his grandad wanted to fill a need of buffalo meat in the state of Alabama. Green Acres Buffalo Farm now provides bison meat to restaurants and meat markets throughout the state. (Photo Credit: Kaylee Baker)

Green Acres Buffalo Farm is home to as many as 100 buffalo. Due to production limitations the herd is fluctuating. (Photo Credit: Kaylee Baker)

According to Spivey, raising buffalo is similar to raising any kind of domesticated herd animal. “You have to make animal care top priority and always seek out new ways to be more efficient,” he said.

Buffalo also present more challenges when it comes to safety due to their size and because they are wild animals. “I can say it is hard to take the Wild West out of buffalo,” Spivey added. “It is a part of the animal’s culture, so with that being said, we have had our experiences with a stampede!”

Keeping the right team in place can make all the difference in the safety and well-being of the buffalo. “We obviously make animal health top priority,” Spivey said. “I must say, we are very fortunate to have a veterinarian who isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with our very large-in-size animals.”

A buffalo farm is in some ways like a cattle ranch in terms of responsibility. “Any farmer will tell you that little problems can become big problems if you let them,” Spivey said. “Therefore, day-to-day, the buffalo herd is checked, and risk managed to ensure the buffalo have everything they need.”

Bison are naturally wild animals and Weston Spivey has had his experience with a stampede. (Photo Credit: Kaylee Baker)

Weston Spivey has a breeding program in place to grow his herd and raise for purchase of herd animals to buffalo colleagues. (Photo Credit: Kaylee Baker)

Buffalo require quality grazing, a great mineral program and worming, like other livestock. “We meet these needs by staying up-to-date with what buffalo producers are doing across the country,” Spivey said. “We have built great lifelong relationships with people that we stay in regular contact with.”

Buffalo also share their adaptability to different climates with cattle. Buffalo have lived and thrived in various climates for centuries, from as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico. “The biggest issue for us in South Alabama is keeping the gnats in the summertime managed,” Spivey said. “But that can be taken care of with back-rubs and minerals.”

Due to COVID-19 production limitations, the Green Acres herd is fluctuating, but at times, they have had as many as 100 buffalo in their herd. Spivey also has a breeding program in place to continue the growth of their operation. “The herd is growing, and we continue to learn more and more every year we do this to raise quality stock,” he said.

This unique meat industry is regulated by the USDA and buffalo are ready for harvest anytime between the ages of 2 ½ to 4 years old. “We have a federally-certified USDA inspector on-site for slaughter,” Spivey said.

Bison meat is a nutrient-packed meat that is cholesterol-free and heart-healthy. The health benefits have kept customers throughout the years. (Photo Credit: Kaylee Baker)

Green Acres Buffalo Farm products can be found in over 30 locations in the Wiregrass, but the status of some of these locations has changed due to COVID-19 and availability for processing. Spivey continues to look for more opportunities to continue their mission to make bison meat available across Alabama. “People have become more adventurous in their food choices,” Spivey said. “The wider the availability, the more people will try it and want to eat it.”

While Green Acres is not open to the public, Spivey likes to give tours to 4-H and FFA whenever possible. “I hope we can continue to educate the public and our neighbors in Alabama that farming itself is the state’s largest economic engine,” Spivey said.

When asked about the future, Spivey said that the future is bright for this unique industry. “Alabama farmers as a whole help feed our entire country and drive growth throughout our state,” Spivey said. “We’re the backbone of a way of life that we all love.”