By Ryan Hanrahan
The Meatingplace’s Frank Fuhrig reported that “the port of entry at Columbus, N.M., will be the third crossing reopened for imports of Mexican cattle as of Oct. 26, the USDA said Monday.”
“After the reopening of the first cattle crossing on Aug. 24 in Douglas, Ariz., and the second, largest port of entry on Sept. 24 at Santa Teresa, N.M., Columbus was named by USDA as the next port in line for reopening to livestock, but with no official date until now,” Fuhrig reported. “… The Columbus reopening is going forward after last week’s confirmation of two new cases of New World screwworm infestation in southwestern New Mexico. The new infestations afflicted a calf and a horse in Grant County adjoining Luna county, which includes Columbus. The flesh-eating pest has now been found in three domesticated animals since last month in Grant County.”
Drovers’ Angie Stump Denton reported that “the Columbus crossing is the third southern livestock port approved to reopen under USDA’s phased framework. Early industry projections expect trade to start at roughly 750 head per day under strict phased quotas.”
“Through Oct. 16, 39,600 head have crossed since the ports reopened to cattle trade,” including approximately 28,800 head in Douglas, Ariz. and 10,800 head Santa Teresa, N.M., Stump Denton reported. “… The Nogales, Ariz., port will reopen for cattle on Nov. 30 if conditions continue to support safe trade and required inspection arrangements and infrastructure are in place.”
Reuters’ Tom Polansek reported that “horse imports are (also) expected to resume in Santa Teresa on October 26, the USDA said on X.”
Source : illinois.edu