American Bison - Buffalo Field Campaign

the conservation of the wild species. Furthermore, commercial
bison operations could pose a threat to conservation
populations through a form of genetic pollution if genetically
selected commercial animals are mixed into conservation herds
or escape and join wild herds. The most prudent action is to
identify and maintain existing conservation herds, and avoid
mixing commercially propagated stock into those herds. Bison
producers and the bison industry could benefit in the long term
by supporting efforts to restore and maintain conservation herds,
particularly those subject to a full range of natural selection
pressures (Chapter 7). Conservation herds secure the bison
genome for the future use of producers—an option not available
for most other domestic animals.
American Bison: Status Survey and Conservation Guidelines 2010 25