Three thousand three hundred twenty-nine (3329) bison from 16 Peace Country bison herds were weighed between November 1992 and October 1994 to determine body weight, gain and to measure herd productivity. A survey of management practices was used to develop three producer profiles: 1) small herds (∼30 head), 130 ha and significant off-farm responsibilities, 2) full-time – 110 breeding females on 1040 ha, and 3) large ranches – 450 breeding females on 2080 ha. Calf winter weight was significantly (P < 0.0001) affected by HERD, YEAR and GENDER with males (196 ± 2.0 kg) significantly heavier (P < 0.0001) than females (180 ± 2.6 kg). Calves of both genders were heavier in 1993 than in 1992. Producers reporting herd health problems also had calves with lower (P < 0.0001) winter weights than herds reporting no health problems (175 ± 1.2 kg vs. 198 ± 1.2 kg). Seasonal ADG ranged from −0.08 kg d−1 to 0.56 kg d−1. A significant relationship existed between winter ADG and subsequent summer ADG (Y = −0.50X + 0.71; P < 0.0001). The results from this study of Peace Country bison are sufficient to serve as industry benchmarks to which producers can compare their herds. Key words: Bison, management, weight, gain, productivity

Each year in March, adherents of the Bahá’í faith abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for 19 days. Thus, Bahá’í fasting (BF) can be considered as a form of daytime dry fasting. We investigated whether BF decreased energy expenditure after a meal and whether it improved anthropometric measures and systemic and tissue-level metabolic parameters. This was a self-controlled cohort study with 11 healthy men. We measured anthropometric parameters, metabolic markers in venous blood and pre- and postprandial energy metabolism at systemic (indirect calorimetry) and tissue (adipose tissue and skeletal muscle microdialysis) level, both before and during BF. During BF, we found reduced body weight, body mass index, body fat and blood glucose. Postprandial increase in energy expenditure was lower and diet-induced thermogenesis tended to be lower as well. In adipose tissue, perfusion, glucose supply and lipolysis were increased. In skeletal muscle, tissue perfusion did not change. Glucose supply and lipolysis were decreased. Glucose oxidation was increased, indicating improved insulin sensitivity. BF may be a promising approach to losing weight and improving metabolism and health. However, outside the context of religiously motivated fasting, skipping a meal in the evening (dinner cancelling) might be recommended, as metabolism appeared to be reduced in the evening.

Each year in March, adherents of the Bah&aacute;&rsquo;&iacute; faith abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset for 19 days. Thus, Bah&aacute;&rsquo;&iacute; fasting (BF) can be considered as a form of daytime dry fasting. We tested if BF decreases energy expenditure after a meal and improves anthropometric measures, and systemic and tissue-level metabolic parameters. This was a self-controlled cohort study with 11 healthy men. We measured anthropometric parameters, metabolic markers in venous blood, and pre- and postprandial energy metabolism at systemic (indirect calorimetry) and tissue (adipose tissue and skeletal muscle microdialysis) level, both before and during BF. During BF, we found reduced body weight, body mass index, body fat and blood glucose. Postprandial increase in energy expenditure was lower, diet-induced thermogenesis tended to be lower. In adipose tissue, perfusion, glucose supply and lipolysis were increased. In skeletal muscle, tissue perfusion did not change. Glucose supply and lipolysis were decreased. Glucose oxidation was increased, indicating an improved insulin sensitivity. BF may be a promising approach to losing weight and improving metabolism and health. However, outside the context of religiously-motivated fasting, skipping a meal rather in the evening (dinner cancelling) might be recommended, as metabolism appears to be reduced in the evening.