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Cattle producers push for solutions as Asian longhorned tick impacts herd health

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association amended its policy on the Asian longhorned tick during this week’s summer meeting, noting the tick has now spread halfway across the United States.

Missouri Cattlemen’s Association President Anita Vanderwert says a disease caused by the tick has been costly to cattle producers.

“Whether it’s death, the loss may only be five percent, but cattle are having abortions, calves are losing thriftiness because the lack of colostrum, quality colostrum, as it works through the cattle. It is significant in fertility issues. We’ve got to get on top of this.”

She says the USDA’s Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service needs more money to find a solution for the problem.

“We need to find a way to regulate and control this disease, as currently there is absolutely nothing that works to be able to protect our herds against bovine theileriosis.”

USDA APHIS lost employees in the Trump administration’s effort to reduce government spending, and Vanderwert says that means there are fewer researchers as the agency responds to other animal health concerns, like New World screwworm.

NWS was also discussed at the meeting. Vanderwert says there have been 35 cases confirmed in the United States, and cattle producers continue to monitor their herds for any signs of infestation.

The 2026 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting was held this week in Colorado.