'Beefalo' are a fertile hybrid offspring of domestic cattle, Bos taurus, and the American Bison, Bison bison (generally called buffalo). The breed was created to combine the best characteristics of both animals with a view towards beef production.

The term Cattalo is defined by United States law as a cross of bison and cattle which have a bison appearance; however, in Canada, cattalo is used for hybrids of all degrees and appearance. In the U.S., cattalo are regulated as "exotic animals" along with pure bison, elk, and deer. Beefalo are primarily cattle in genetics and appearance with the breed association defining a full beefalo as one with 3/8 bison genetics while they call animals with higher percentages of bison genetics as "bison hybrids".

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