February 1, 2008

US expands screening area for Mexican cattle through Arizona port

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposed for an additional port in San Luis Arizona to regulate the entry of Mexican cattle.

Cattle from Mexico are inspected individually at APHIS-approved facilities and be certified free of ticks. If ticks are found, the cattle are dipped in a solution to kill the parasites. Soon after, the cattle are held in quarantine for 10 to 14 days before being re-inspected.

Currently, tick-infested cattle from Mexico are only authorized to enter the US through a single port in Santa Teresa, New Mexico and six ports in Texas.

The San Luis Arizona port is proposed for the western-most areas to be able to accept these animals from Mexico.

Around 68,000 cattle enter the US through the New Mexico port, 500,000 through the Texas ports, while 25,000 - 50,000 are estimated to enter the Arizona port once approved.

Cattle fever caused from ticks was eradicated from the US since 1961, with the exception of a permanent quarantine zone along the Texas-Mexico border.