Following a positive inspection conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the SuKarne and Rancho Lucero feedlots, “the state will be a key player in reopening the borders for live cattle to the United States,” declared Jesús López Morales, head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development (SAGDR).
The state official explained that this inspection was possible thanks to the joint work carried out with the federal Secretary of Agriculture, Julio Berdegué Sacristán, and months of coordination to demonstrate that the exporting states, including Durango, maintain a screwworm-free status, an essential requirement for resuming international trade in live cattle.
Although there is no definitive date yet, Durango will be crucial for the border opening, as the visit and the positive results obtained place the state in a strategic position to complete the process in the short term. Jesús López Morales
According to the head of the SAGDR (National Agency for Agricultural Research and Development), the US inspectors, in their review, conducted a strict evaluation of certain points, such as the traceability of cattle from their origin and the application of national protocols for cattle originating in areas with the presence of screwworms or from affected countries.
In addition to the proper functioning of the detection traps, which confirmed that there is no presence of the pest in Durango, López Morales assured that some recommendations were made regarding documentation and monitoring, but emphasized that the overall balance was highly favorable.
“We did very well in the review. They were very tough, but we knew we were prepared, and Durango complied with USDA requirements,” the state official noted. He emphasized that, although the screwworm represents a high-impact animal health risk, the results of the visit reaffirm that the surveillance campaigns carried out in the state have been successful.
“The most important thing is that all the traps indicate that there is no screwworm in Durango. This gives us an advantage and gives us confidence that we are ready to move forward in this process,” he concluded.
He emphasized that the inspection by the American department in Durango is part of a bilateral process with Mexico to strengthen livestock health and ensure that exports are carried out under the highest biosecurity standards.
Source: oem
