Animal health
Models can’t yet tell you exactly when New World screwworm will reach your area. Cattle movements, weather and reporting will decide how far — and how fast — it goes.
The USDA strike team uses dispersal by air and vehicle along with ground release chambers to keep the devastating flesh‑eating pest from gaining a foothold in U.S. livestock and wildlife.
After 60 years of successful eradication, NWS has been detected in Texas. Understand the history of this parasite, the science behind the Sterile Insect Technique and USDA and TAHC’s actions to protect the U.S. livestock industry.
When a 3-day-old calf at Rock Creek Ranch had a suspicious navel, Robbie Graff acted fast. Explore the response to the first U.S. screwworm case since it was eradicated in 1966 and why early reporting is the industry’s best defense.
With NWS confirmations in cattle and a goat in South Texas and a dog in New Mexico, leaders say the threat is serious but manageable with producer vigilance. Texas has activated its emergency operations center to support state response.
Animal health officials respond to second detection of New World screwworm in a 1-month-old calf.
A quarantine order is in place; USDA officials say the La Pryor detection is the only confirmed case so far, stressing there is no food safety risk but calling on cattle producers and pet owners to monitor wounds closely and follow movement restrictions.
Despite record-high cash costs of $780 per head, surging calf prices pushed average profit margins up by $614 in 2025.