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Texas cattle producers say proactive management is critical amid New World screwworm concerns

The northward advancement of New World screwworm continues to have Texas producers on edge.

Texas stocker Wayne Cockrell says ramping up animal health practices is crucial in the fight against New World screwworm, “You’ve got to put your eyes on those animals every day.”  Cockrell is a board member with the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association and chairs its cattle health and well-being committee.  Hesays proactive measures go beyond treating wounds, it’s also taking calving season into consideration.     

“Some of our producers leave their bulls out year-round,” he says. “Well, they’re going to have to determine, is that a cheaper cost to than to pull that bull out for three months out of the year so I don’t have those calves during the summertime when it’s the threat will be greater?”

He tells Brownfield he’s encouraged by the FDA’s recent conditional approval of products to treat and prevent New World screwworm. “Those products combined with the sterile flies can give us a little reassurance that these first cases are not the start of just a widespread infestation like we did in the 1960s,” he says. 

AUDIO: Wayne Cocrell, TSCRA

John Hutcheson, director of beef cattle services for Merck Animal Health’s says he’s excited about the company’s new Exzolt Cattle CA1. “There is no known resistance and a new chemical to add to our arsenal of products that we can try to prevent and treat the new world screwworms,” he says.   

AUDIO: John Hutcheson, Merck Animal Health

New World screwworm has not been detected inside the US, and the northernmost active case of NWS is about 200 miles from the U.S. border.  However, the during a routine inspection, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service found an open wound on a horse from Argentina that contained New World screwworm larvae.  The animal has been treated and will remain in quarantine until it has been reexamined and is determined to be NWS free.