Mexico has confirmed eight new cases of New World screwworm (NWS) in Tamaulipas, which borders Texas. Josh Maples, an ag economist with Mississippi State University Extension says continued detections create additional questions in the cattle industry. “If and when the border is going to reopen, I think that’s really uncertain, especially with the cases popping up again and again and again,” he says.
There have been no cases of NWS detected in the United States. But there have been eleven confirmed cases in Tamaulipas, Mexico since December 30th.
The Texas Department of Agriculture says it has not received confirmation that the affected animals have a history of movement outside of Tamaulipas, which Ag Commissioner Sid Miller says raises concerns that there is now an established screwworm fly population.
The U.S. border has been closed to imports of live cattle from Mexico for a better part of the past year. But, Maples says, “I don’t think there’s this big backlog of cattle just hanging out right there waiting to come across as soon as the border does reopen.” So how does the continued suspension impact cattle supplies? Maples says, “It suggests that we’re probably not very close to a lot of cattle coming in from Mexico, even if the border does reopen, which again is highly uncertain given the new cases that we’ve seen.”
In December, the FDA conditionally approved chewable tablets for the treatment of infestations caused by NWS in dogs and puppies, and a topical solution for the prevention and treatment of NWS and control of cattle fever tick in beef cattle two months of age and older and replacement dairy heifers less than 20 months of age.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
There is no doubt that Mexican beef producers would like to see their cattle moving across the border. However, the reality points to a prolonged closure as long as new cases of NWS are detected in their live cattle. U.S. consumers would benefit from the influx of Mexican beef given the lower supplies on the U.S. side of the border. However, protecting the U.S. herd is paramount, our beef producers would suffer greatly if NWS crossed the border.
We will continue to monitor this situation closely since it has serious ramifications for U.S. beef producers and their ability to sell their cattle. In the meantime, it would be in your best interest to target beef producers in your area. Put them high on your potential customer list. Put your inventory on AgTruckTrader.com® so they know you are a CAD member and what you have on your lot!
