Are American Producers Ready If NWS Enters The Country

Officials in Mexico continue to struggle with New World Screwworm.  From mid-August through mid-September, officials reported almost 32% more cases of New World Screwworm, totaling over 6,700 cases.  And recently, a new case was reported at the doorstep of the U.S. border.

Oklahoma State University Beef Veterinarian Dr. Rosalyn Biggs said she is concerned that American beef producers aren’t prepared in the event that the parasite enters the U.S.

“It's one of my biggest concerns, frankly, with New World Screwworm, is access to facilities, access to be able to treat right? Facilities, as far as that investment, it's got to be something that, of course, makes sense," Biggs stressed.  "We've got to be able to get those animals caught, get them handled in that way, based on what we could potentially face. That, and I have a concern that the vast majority of producers don't remember it, and that includes me, right, like I have to listen to my father and others that had to deal with New World Screwworm literally on a daily basis.”

NWS Appears To Be Inching Closer

To do the daily inspections necessary to combat the screwworm, Biggs said producers need to think about the appropriate facilities.

"Especially with the looming New World Screwworm, we had the announcement — I saw it in the middle of the night — that it's 70 miles from the border,' Biggs said.  "It looks like it's inching closer. And with that, if there's any time to invest in facilities, it’s probably now. What you may find is that handling facilities will improve your cattle experience if you get good ones, right? I don't know how many times we've just been dealing with something, dealing with something, dealing with something, and we finally make the investment, it's like, why did we wait so long to do that? You know, that's another component, too. For that, you can have your veterinarian out. It's a new, fresh set of eyes to it. Having facility consoles, I think, is a great approach and, again, now's the time to invest.”

Ranchers Need To Make Some Tough Decisions

Whatever facilities you have, she noted, need to work for you.

“It just needs to be safe and functional, right? Safe and functional, and it does not have to be super fancy. It doesn't," Biggs said.  "It just needs to get the job done, as you said, and make sure we've got personnel and animal handling in mind, I suppose too, maybe now's the time with cattle prices. If you have that one cow that is hard to catch, and you get her captured, maybe she needs to go to the sale barn. Those are some decisions that I think are worth considering.”

 
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