AMARILLO, Texas (RFD-TV) — Cattle trade with Mexico is resuming as more ports reopen during the screwworm outbreak.
Laphe LaRoe with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association says the extended closure had a significant impact on the state’s cattle industry.
“Specifically in our Texas area, there were some individual yards that were 60-70 percent cattle from Mexico, and some of the individual yards, it was sure enough hurtful for those guys, and hopefully we can continue to get this trade back to being business as usual. We stayed closed long enough that I’m not sure we’ll ever get back to the numbers we used to have. I think if we continue to work at it, we’ll be able to get back to some useful numbers.”
USDA has taken a number of steps to eradicate the pest, and LaRoe says those efforts are working.
“Absolutely, the sterile insect technique was the chosen way of eradicating it the first time. We’re using that same technology today. Potentially some upgraded technology as far as the Novofly is concerned and those things. I do have to give a shoutout to the USDA and the APHIS and our animal health commissions for putting the playbooks together.”
LaRoe says the response has worked well and believes they are now on the winning side of the outbreak.
