White Cloud was born on July 10, 1996, on the Shirek Buffalo Farm in Michigan, ND. She joined the live bison herd at the site of the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown, ND, in May of 1997.
What makes White Cloud so unique is the fact that she is a true albino bison and pure bison, having been DNA tested for both albino genes as well as cattle genes. The odds of a true albino bison cannot be calculated, making White Cloud both a phenomenon and making this rare animal legendary. A white bison is considered to be sacred creatures by many Native American people, giving this magnificent animal a stature of symbolizing peace, unity and hope. Still, to others, the white bison symbolizes great changes in the world.
Not only is White Cloud a true white bison, but she is also a pure bison. The pure bison herds became almost extinct with the introduction of crossing cattle and bison species to produce the beefalo in the 1970s. Beefalo actually had its official debut in a Time Magazine Article entitled, “Have a Slice of Roast Beefalo” published in July, 1973. The popularity of beefalo has had its ups and downs through the 1990s through various issues, but continues to maintain a very high quality, lean beef. Concerned bison breeders are carefully breeding to restore pure bison herds through DNA testing.
White Cloud produced her fifth calf, Dakota Miracle, a pure white bull calf, August 31, 2007, at the National Buffalo Museum.
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