The expanding and award-winning bison herd at Domino's Farms in Ann Arbor Township

Submitted photo

Washtenaw County’s largest office complex - at close to 1 million square feet - is home to an expanding herd of bison that roam the Ann Arbor Township property near US-23 and M-14.

So while Domino’s Farms staff fulfills all of the functions of property managers, from leasing to maintenance, there also are people like Todd Crocker, who manage the herd.

This spring, the 42-head herd will grow with the birth of two dozen calves. The herd also is growing in stature, bringing home a second-place award in the recent Eastern Bison Association’s show and sale in Pennsylvania and qualifying for another national show in early 2012.

It’s an interesting position for the complex, a single building built in phases in a design that pays tribute to architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

But it works, said spokesman John Petz.

“People love them,” he said. “… It’s amazing to look up from your desk and see the herd out there.”

Domino’s Farms had various cattle on the grounds since it opened in 1985, tying together the notion that it was a working farm, Petz said. A petting farm still exists on the property, and blending the natural setting with the building was a goal from the beginning.

But, in time, “we were searching for something that was a little different from a herd standpoint,” Petz said.

Enter the bison, also known as the American buffalo, which cut an iconic American figure.

The herd at Domino’s Farms have been converted to grass-fed, Petz said, which contributes to their escalating value in the bison world.

“Folks are starting to recognize the quality of our breeding stock,” he said. “Other bison rangers around the country want to get their hands on them.”

The bison can be considered amenities at the complex, Petz said, which is 94 percent occupied.

“As we get into the spring season, they’ll be running and playing,” Petz said. “(The calves) add a whole new element to the family dynamic of the herd.”

It also doesn’t hurt from a business standpoint that the bison are starting to earn their keep.

The operation, Petz said, is close to break-even.

The come with side benefits, too: “We don’t have to mow anything… They’ll certainly manage the fields they’re in by grazing.”

Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email. Sign up for the weekly Business Review newsletter, distributed every Thursday, here.