Imported Cattle Plummet

U.S. cattle imports plummeted last year to 981,000 head, off more than 50% from 2024 (Figure 1). The freefall resulted directly from the closing of the Mexican border due to New World Screwworm. It’s the lowest number of cattle imported since 2000, even fewer than 2004 when imports from Canada were restricted due to BSE. Since 2000 annual cattle imports have ranged between 1.37 million (2004) to 2.5 million head (2002) with the most recent high occurring in 2014 at 2.36 million. But despite the fall, the Daily Livestock Report estimates last year’s share of cattle imported relative to the number of cattle slaughtered was 6%, average for the past 25 years, due to declining slaughter numbers. The share has ranged from 4% to nearly 8%.

U.S. cattle imports come exclusively from Mexico and Canada. Imports from Mexico are mostly feeder cattle heading to stockers and feedlots in the Southwest. Mexican imports fell to 229,000 head last year, down more than 1 million or 82% from 2024. Cattle imports from Canada, mostly intended for slaughter, equaled 753,000 head, off 6%.

Shrinking U.S. cattle numbers and rising cattle prices typically mean greater cattle imports. But the closing of the Mexican border led to a much different outcome last year. There’s been little news about reopening the border and the continued closure is having implications for feedlots in the Southwest as evidenced by the closing of the 50,000 head Lubbock Feedyard. Reports suggest 60%-70% of feedlot cattle in the region came from Mexico before the shutdown. The longer the border closing lasts, the greater the pressure on the feeding sector in the region. When the border does reopen, cattle imports will grow, but crossings will likely to be slow and remain below levels that would be expected given underlying market conditions.