The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that it will not place restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico despite the recent identification of New World screwworm in a cow along the border.
Cattle supplies in the U.S. have been limited in recent months following a suspension of shipments from Mexico in late November due to a screwworm discovery in a Mexican cow.
Another case of screwworm was detected in a cow in Mexico's Tabasco state last week, as reported by the World Organization for Animal Health. This pest poses a threat to livestock, wildlife, and, in rare instances, people by laying eggs in living animals, leading to severe and often fatal harm.
The USDA had implemented new inspection and treatment procedures in November to evaluate the health of animals entering the U.S. from Mexico.
In response to inquiries about potential import halts, the USDA stated that it will not take any additional measures following the recent incident. The agency emphasized the importance of the established pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocols which aim to facilitate safe transport of cattle and bison into the U.S. while minimizing the risk of New World screwworm infestation.
Feeder cattle futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw an increase due to speculation that the USDA might once again suspend imports from Mexico.
With U.S. cattle supplies at their lowest levels in 74 years and beef prices elevated due to herd reductions caused by drought impacting grazing land availability, the industry continues to face significant challenges.