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Texas
Agriculture Archive
March 15, 2002
Mexican feeder cattle
imports face restrictions
By Lana Robinson
Field Editor
Importers of Mexican feeder cattle (steers and spayed heifers) face new federal import requirements beginning April 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has raised health standards to protect U.S. animals from the risk of tuberculosis posed by cattle coming from across the border. According to Texas Animal Health Commission officials, the new regs will be tied directly to the prevalence of TB in the cattle's Mexican state of origin, or their region within a Mexican state.
Dr. Linda Logan, Texas state veterinarian and TAHC head, said, "Mexican feeder animals have offered excellent opportunities for cattle producers. Cattle TB, however, continues to be a problem in many Mexico states, and we must continue to assure that imported animals are properly tested for TB before they enter Texas. Infected animals can spread the disease by coughing, bellowing or snorting. The bacterial-laden aerosol that they expel can be inhaled by animals nearby or could contaminate feed. If we have TB introduced into our herds, our ability to trade interstate or internationally would be restricted."
Not enough progress
Since April 2001, USDA has granted waivers to the whole-herd test, if Mexican states could demonstrate sufficient progress in eradicating TB prior to April 2002.
During the past five months, USDA-sponsored teams have conducted in-depth TB status reviews in 16 Mexican states with active TB eradication programs. The teams, comprised by state and federal regulatory veterinarians, trade association representatives and laboratory specialists, determined that only one Mexican state and portions of five other states could be granted a waiver of the whole-herd test requirement. Jon Johnson, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, was on one of the teams.
"They're going to have to test the cattle on the ranch—the whole herd—then when they get ready to export the cattle, they will have to be tested again," said Johnson. "Even if those tests are within 60 days of each other, they must do a whole herd test and then another test."
Johnson is one of eight American representatives serving on the U.S.-Mexico Binational Committee with eight representatives of Mexico that has been meeting three times yearly to formalize status review findings, and discuss TB, brucellosis and trade issues.
"We have been working on TB for 10 years, with the Mexican states that are working to get their TB programs up to speed. Some are doing a good job, but they're running into some money problems down there, a lack of federal monies. We developed a list of things they hadn't done which would be required for them to move up in status. We will probably go back in midsummer and re-review some of those states that had some minor problems they hadn't completed. Until that time, they have to have the two tests," Johnson said.
By 2003, the USDA will tighten regulations again, when international rules will require exporting countries to fully meet US-equivalent standards for cattle TB eradication.
Since l994, Mexican cattle have been imported under a "consensus agreement" established by the state veterinarians in Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico. At least 20 other U.S. states incorporated the consensus document into their state rules. The new federal rules will provide a more stringent, yet uniform program for imports.
Maps delineating the boundaries of TB regions within Mexican states will be available April 1.
All Mexican cattle must be officially identified with a blue ear tag imprinted with the name of its Mexican state. The animals must also be accompanied by a certificate of origin, which documents where the animals came from. Imported animals must also carry an "M"-brand on the hip and will be inspected for fever ticks at the import station at the border.
Additionally, feeder cattle must have a negative TB skin test before being imported, if they come from Yucatan; a designated portion of Coahuila, which borders Texas; Sinaloa; the remaining portion of Sonora; or designated segments of Aguascalientes or Jalisco. These states or portions of states have between one and five infected herds per 1,000 herds.
States that have an infection prevalence greater than five infected herds per 1,000 herds in the state or area will export feeder cattle under the interim rule.
Feeder cattle from areas of Mexico that have not made sufficient progress toward TB eradication will be allowed to enter the U.S. only directly to slaughter. Prior to entry for slaughter, the animals must have a negative TB test and must be accompanied by the proper paperwork, including an import permit and official ear tags.
Dr. Logan said the TAHC also will closely scrutinize Mexican roping and rodeo cattle already in Texas. The TAHC requires that these animals be tested every 12 months for TB.
