Imports of feeder cattle from Mexico are expected to partially resume the week of Jan. 20, according to sources. Imports will be slow at first due to the need to implement and test new protocols. Live animal movements are expected to resume fully sometime after the initial reopening.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) suspended imports of live cattle and bison from Mexico on Nov. 22, 2024, following the detection of New World screwworm (NWS) along Mexico’s southern border. This pest can have a significant negative impact on cattle health, and U.S. authorities have been working to develop protocols to screen animals coming into the country.
Several factors are influencing the timeline and pace of reopening:
- Facility inspections: Both countries have agreed on protocols, but implementation requires facility inspections and approvals.
- Quarantine period: A seven-day quarantine after animal checks
- Port readiness: The most important port to get moving again is Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
The temporary suspension of cattle imports from Mexico has had notable effects on the U.S. cattle market:
- Reduced supply: About 250,000-300,000 fewer head of cattle are estimated to have been imported due to the suspension.
- Price support: The trade disruption has been supporting feeder cattle and calf prices in the U.S.
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