October 5, 2006

Mexico opens markets to US dairy heifers

Mexico is resuming the trade in US dairy heifers under 24 months of age, the USDA announced.

US agriculture secretary Mike Johanns said he is pleased with the development, but hoped for a broader resumption of cattle trade.

The agreement allows US producers to export dairy heifers that are under 24 months of age to Mexico. These heifers must be registered with a purebred dairy breed association or the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, a national dairy producer cooperative.

The dairy heifers would be individually identified as they depart the US and their information entered into the Mexican animal identification system.

Mexico banned US dairy heifers in December 2003 after mad cow disease was discovered in Washington state.

The next year, Mexico allowed boneless US beef from animals under 30 months of age, and early this year, the country began accepting US bone-in beef from animals under 30 months of age.