Black Market Ear Tags, Cattle Trafficking are Cause for Concern

All eyes are on the New World screwworm in the cattle industry and the outbreak that is going on in Mexico, and there is growing concern that illegal cattle trafficking may be to blame. R-CALF United Stock Growers of America, CEO Bill Bullard, shares his thoughts on the issue and what it means for the livestock industry.

“It's cattle trafficking out of Nicaragua, Honduras, and other Centra American, Central American countries, and the reports indicate that there's been over 800,000 illegal cattle entering Mexico each year since 2022, and that's alarming. And so we're going to be talking with USDA and the White House about the need to fully investigate the how widespread this cattle trafficking is. And interestingly, they said that the cattle are entering Mexico with black market ear tag and falsified documents.”

Bullard says the outbreak underscores R-CALF USA's concerns with the electronic ID mandate stressing it's not a foolproof system. He adds, the only way to eliminate the New World screwworm is through a coordinated effort focused on proven solutions that stop the spread of its source.”

Strongly indicates that until at last we eradicate screw worm from Mexico, the United States will remain in danger.”

R-CALF USA’s Bill Bullard.