MEXICAN CATTLE RETURN TO U.S FOR FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A YEAR AS BORDER REOPENS. (PHOTO).

Mexican cattle return to U.S for first time in more than a year as border reopens

Mexican feeder cattle have resumed entering the United States for the first time in more than a year, following the reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border at the Douglas, Arizona, port on Monday.

The first shipment included more than 680 cattle from Sonora that crossed from Agua Prieta, Mexico. Of the 716 animals presented for entry, U.S. veterinarians rejected 24 because they had cuts, scratches, or other lesions.

The reopening follows repeated interruptions in cattle trade caused by New World screwworm, a parasitic pest whose larvae feed on living tissue and can cause serious injuries and death in livestock. The border was last closed to Mexican cattle in July 2025 after an earlier temporary closure in November 2024.

The return of Mexican cattle comes as U.S. supplies remain historically low. Authorities have reported 46 screwworm cases in Texas and New Mexico, with two still considered active as of Aug. 24.

The reopening is being phased in gradually. Imports are expected to start at roughly 700 cattle per day during the first week, rise to about 900 per day in the second week, and eventually reach approximately 1,300 per day.

The Douglas crossing is operating under a joint U.S.-Mexico import protocol that includes safeguards intended to limit the risk of screwworm entering the United States. Agriculture officials said they will continue monitoring conditions in Mexico and could suspend additional openings if inspections or other information indicate increased risks in Sonora or Chihuahua.

Texas ports are not expected to reopen soon because of continued screwworm activity in the state. Two additional New Mexico ports are being evaluated for the reopening of cattle, bison and horse shipments, with one potentially reopening in about 30 days and another approximately a month later.

Mexico is also expanding efforts to control screwworm in its northern states. Authorities plan to increase the release of sterile flies in Sonora and Chihuahua, using a technique in which sterilized insects mate with wild flies but produce no offspring, helping reduce the pest population.

Mexico recently opened a sterile-fly production facility in Chiapas, while the United States is building a similar facility in Texas that is expected to begin operating in spring 2027. Chihuahua has reported 183 confirmed screwworm cases since the first detection in July, while Sonora has reported two cases.

The reopening could provide some relief to U.S. cattle feeders struggling with tight supplies following years of herd contraction. An estimated 150,000 Mexican cattle could enter the United States during the remainder of 2026, with the possibility of reaching 250,000.

Those numbers would still be far below historical levels. Mexican cattle imports averaged roughly 1.17 million annually from 2004 through 2023, with yearly totals ranging from about 703,000 to nearly 1.47 million.

Mexican livestock groups have projected significantly higher volumes if more crossings in Chihuahua reopen. One projection calls for as many as 200,000 cattle to enter the U.S. market in 2026, with a value of about $420 million, followed by roughly 1.09 million cattle in 2027 worth approximately $2.1 billion.

The return of Mexican feeder cattle is particularly important to Southwest feedyards, which have historically relied on imports to supplement domestic supplies.

The reopening comes as U.S. beef prices remain elevated. The national cattle herd stood at 86.2 million head at the beginning of the year, the smallest level in 75 years, after years of drought, weak cattle prices and herd reductions.

Ground beef averaged $6.89 per pound in July, nearly 57% higher than the $4.39 average recorded in July 2021. The average price of uncooked steak reached a record $13.06 per pound in July.