Jalisco protects itself against screwworms

After the United States government decided to close the border to live cattle imports due to the spread of the screwworm in Mexico, preventive measures and training were implemented in Jalisco to prevent the disease from reaching the state.

The Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Eduardo Ron Ramos, explained that checkpoints were reinforced and doctors and ranchers were trained in the control and prevention of screwworms .

Although the state is not a major exporter of cattle to the United States, the spread of the plague across the country could lower cattle prices, which are currently at 82.83 pesos per kilo for a 200-kilogram calf. Furthermore, two months ago, a medical team was sent to assist with control and prevention efforts on the country's southern border, in coordination with authorities from all three levels of government. The parasite was detected in the state, infecting more than a thousand animals, according to the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (Senasica).

“We trained all our doctors at the checkpoints, which are located at 19 strategic locations in Jalisco. We trained them because, obviously, we've had many years without this disease. Second, we have mobile patrols. When we see a livestock cage or the movement of cattle, we stop them as a precaution to inspect them.”

He announced that they will acquire dogs trained to detect screwworms , which will facilitate prevention efforts. Next week, the Secretariat will send another team of trained doctors to the southern border to continue strengthening efforts in the area.

“Every day we play a role in providing training, not only to our doctors, but also to the ranchers and feedlots. Obviously, to help us inspect the cattle arriving, especially from the south. Inspections are daily, we bring a whole course, we bring people to train them. As a state, we need soldiers, so to speak… and the best thing is to train our ranchers.”

The president of the Tlaquepaque Cattle Feeders Association, Juan Arenas Covarrubias, explained that Jalisco is currently under sanitary reclassification, and therefore does not export to the United States. However, the effects could continue if the spread of the plague across the country is not contained. "The state government is doing great work at entry checkpoints and sending personnel to the southern border."

The National Agricultural Council estimates that livestock exporters in Sonora and Chihuahua alone could lose $11.4 million in daily revenue from sales to the United States.

Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of the Agricultural Market Consulting Group, noted that the United States is experiencing the lowest livestock inventory since 1951, as well as the highest prices in its history. If the suspension of exports continues, he emphasized, the cost could be higher.

"There's a considerable increase. That's why Mexican cattle are very important for U.S. importers, but also for Mexican exporters who are always working with genetics and cattle, and who hope to sell their cattle, but now we're closing the deal."

AGRO CALLS FOR SOLUTIONS

“The impact is incalculable”

Rogelio Soto, president of the Durango Regional Livestock Union, lamented the news of the closure of the United States borders due to the presence of screwworms and said that instead of looking for culprits, solutions must be found.

He mentioned that to date they have exported 57,714 heads as of the end of last week, compared to 250,000 heads last year.

"The impact is incalculable," he said of the economic impact. He mentioned that between 1,200 and 1,300 cattle that were traveling toward the border are now returning, as only those that were pre-selected will be allowed to cross.

"We're not going to waste our time looking for culprits; we have to direct our limited resources and energy toward finding solutions," he commented.

He considered that drastic measures must be taken and that results must be achieved, as what is needed is to provide certainty to the U.S. authorities. Rogelio Soto added that it was a bad sign that borders like those at Palomas and Piedras Negras had not been opened, as he mentioned that there are nine border bridges, but only four had been operational.

"This is bad news for Mexican ranchers. There are many problems," he said.

The president of the Durango Regional Livestock Union added that the agreement is also not being respected, as the pre-inspection was supposed to be authorized to operate, even with the presence of the screwworm.

THE VOICE OF THE EXPERT

Jalisco, free of the screwworm

José Antonio Ruelas Pérez, president of the Jalisco Regional Livestock Union.

The screwworm plague, which forced the United States government to close the border to Mexican imports, has not reached Jalisco's livestock, confirmed José Antonio Ruelas Pérez, president of the Jalisco Regional Livestock Union (UGRJ).

“There have been suspected cases, but fortunately none have been screwworms . Here in Jalisco , we haven't had a single positive case of screwworms . There are confirmed cases in the states bordering Guatemala. The United States knew they had this problem, yet they still let us export.”

“An agreement was made that if the fly continued walking, or if it jumped the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, they would close the border, which is what happened,” he added.

Ruelas Pérez commented that it's likely the screwworm will reach Jalisco, as it's estimated there are more than 1,300 cases in different states across the country.

We are a state with great production

Juan Joao Arenas Covarrubias, president of the Association of Fatteners specializing in Cattle.

Jalisco is a state that faces fewer risks from the spread of the screwworm in Mexico because it does not depend on cattle imports from other states, said Juan Joao Arenas Covarrubias, president of the Tlaquepaque Cattle Feeders Association.

“Jalisco itself is a very productive state. In fact, other states get their supplies from here, and Jalisco's feedlots receive a lot of their supplies from here.”

He adds that Jalisco "is a state that is less at risk because it is almost self-sufficient in calf production, so if there is no presence (of the screwworm) here, it is more difficult for it to manifest," he added.

Arenas Covarrubias commented that cattle are sometimes received from Colima, Nayarit, Zacatecas, and Guanajuato, but thanks to the productivity of this sector in the state, as well as the preventive measures of the state government, Jalisco could avoid the arrival of the parasite.

Cattle could trigger inflation

Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group.

Although the closure of the border with the United States to Mexican cattle exports is already an alarming situation that has raised prices in the United States and Mexico, if trade relations in this sector are not reestablished within the 15 days announced by the U.S. government, the consequences could be more serious for both countries, explained Juan Carlos Anaya, general director of Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA).

"The issue is that if it's not fixed in 15 days, that cattle will lose value and must be directed to the domestic market. There's a strong demand for the government to take on a more restraining role, but it's also a matter of convincing our trading partners to do so. Another issue is working on the use of sterile fly planes to attack screwworms," ​​he noted.

The consequences include repercussions on domestic livestock prices, the national meat supply, and food inflation.

What effects does the screwworm cause in infected animals?

Screwworm infestation, caused by the larvae of the fly Cochliomyia hominivorax, poses a health risk to livestock, other animals, and even humans.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the World Organization for Animal Health, symptoms of infestation include fever, depression, loss of appetite, decreased milk production, and weight gain. These warning signs are associated with preexisting wounds on the animal, which are usually large and oozing, with serosanguineous discharge and a rotten-meat odor where the larvae reside.

The infection can be fatal if not treated within the first two weeks, but it is also curable. Treatment includes cleaning the wound and physically removing the larvae from the infested tissue. Larvicides should be applied and the wound cared for to prevent secondary infections, and the infected animal should be taken to a veterinarian.

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