DOUGLAS, Ariz. (RFD News) — Cattle supplies will soon begin flowing again at the southern border following a closure lasting more than a year.
Laphe LaRoe with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association said many feed yards in the region have felt the impact of the closure.
“About 15% of the inventories within the TCFA area were dependent upon the Mexico cattle. There’s some individual feed yards that were as much as 50 to 65% of their population was cattle that were coming from old Mexico. In general, it sure hurts some of the feed yards.”
Speaking this week from the Douglas Port of Entry in Arizona, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the strategic reopening for cattle trade will begin Aug. 24. Every animal entering the port will be inspected by APHIS.
LaRoe said the reopening will provide some relief for cattle supplies, but warned the market will not return to normal right away.
“It’s a staged reopening. It’s just one port. There’s not going to be a flood of cattle that are going to be coming across from old Mexico. You’ve got stringent protocols, and it’s going to be slow getting things going. But it eventually given us the ability to normalize our businesses, gives us some comfort.”
Rollins said Douglas, Arizona, was chosen as the first port to reopen because of the lower risk of New World screwworm and its ability to handle enhanced inspections.
