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Texas cattle producer monitors New World Screwworm threat

New World screwworm continues to create challenges for U.S. cattle producers.

With the latest case detected just 31 miles south of the U.S. border, cattle producers remain on high alert.

Zane Herrin is the division feedlot manager for one of Texas’s largest operations southwest of Amarillo. “Texas producers are surprised we haven’t had it in Texas yet. I think it’s going to get pretty close, but from our perspective, we’re far enough north that it will reach our other operations further south before it gets to us and we’ll be able to respond.” 

He tells Brownfield the southern border closure to live cattle imports from Mexico is hitting feedlots especially hard.  “Another difficult thing with our business model is that we don’t want to stick our neck out to buy expensive calves to stocker. We rely on stocker operators to send us cattle, but right now, they’re scared to purchase any because of the market conditions.” 

He says his company has created an emergency response plan to implement if NWS is confirmed within the herd. 

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall says the industry is very well prepared IF the pest enters the U.S. “We’re ready. We’ve had over a year and a half to look at this. To watch it. Too develop new tools. To get new approval for emergency-use products. We do have the sterile insect technology facility in south Texas that is under construction. We have the new distribution facility that is already up and running and is allowing those sterile flies out of Panama to be distributed to the Texas border.” 

He says he expects additional sterile flies coming out of the Mexican facility in July. Woodall says he’s encouraged by EPA and FDA approvals of products to help manage the pest.

On Friday, the USDA says the pest was found in a 6-month-old sheep int he Mexican state of Coahuila. NWS has not been confirmed in the U.S.

Zane Herrin: