Local Ranchers Brace for Cattle Pest Arrival

The first confirmed cases of New World screwworm in Texas in more than 50 years has cattle producers across the state paying close attention, with local ranchers warning that preventing the pest’s spread will require a coordinated response from state and federal agencies.

The Texas Animal Health Commission announced June 3 that New World screwworm larvae were found in two cows in Zavala County, marking the first confirmed Texas cases since the parasite began mov- ing northward from Central America several years ago.

For Brazos Communications CEO Kyle Hinson, who raises cattle on family land near Olney, the threat is difficult for individual producers to control once it arrives.

“There’s not much you can do,” Mr. Hinson said. “You treat it as you go. It’s up to the government to stop it.”

New World screwworms are the larvae of a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds and body openings of warm-blooded animals. After hatching, the larvae burrow into living flesh, creating wounds that can become fatal if untreated.

Olney cattleman Shad Sullivan, who is also the private property rights committee chairman for the largest U.S. independent cattle producers’ group, R-CALF, said ranchers should remain alert but avoid panic.

“Obviously, the announcement of two calves in South Texas testing positive is unnerving news, but calm must prevail,” Mr. Sullivan said.

Mr. Sullivan said the reappearance of screwworms follows years of concern among cattle producers as the pest gradually moved north through Mexico. He said a breakdown in cooperation between the United States and Mexico during and after the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the resurgence.

“It is very important for Texas cattle ranchers to monitor and manage their cattle and wildlife herds as closely as possible,” Mr. Sullivan said.

That means regularly inspecting animals for wounds and working with veterinarians to develop treatment and prevention plans, he said. Ranchers who suspect an infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian and report the case to state authorities, he added.

State officials have responded aggressively to the detection. An infested zone has been established in Zavala County, movement restrictions have been imposed, and federal authorities are expanding surveillance and trapping efforts. Officials are also preparing to release sterile male flies, using the same technique that successfully eradicated screwworms from the United States decades ago.

Dr. Bud Dinges, executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, urged livestock owners to remain vigilant and report infestations immediately.

“We encourage all animal owners and caretakers to continue to remain vigilant for the presence of larvae in animal wounds,” Dinges said.

Mr. Sullivan said the discovery underscores the need for government action.

“There has never been a more important time in history for the federal and state agencies to communicate and cooperate,” he said. “We must finance the whole project immediately by any and all means necessary in order to protect the U.S. cattle herd.”

For now, Young County ranchers are keeping a close eye on developments, hoping the infestation can be contained in South Texas before it reaches the major cattle-producing regions farther north.