New World Screwworm Outbreak in Texas Threatens U.S. Cattle and Beef Prices
The USDA confirmed the first U.S. outbreak of New World screwworm since the 1960s in a Texas calf, with additional cases in cattle and a dog. The flesh-eating parasite threatens the already diminished U.S. cattle herd, at a 75-year low, potentially causing $1.8 billion in losses and further spiking beef prices already up 57-75% since 2020. Authorities are implementing quarantines and releasing sterile flies, while critics blame funding cuts to monitoring programs for increasing outbreak risk.
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Resurgence of flesh-eating New World screwworm in Texas could take a bite out of consumer stocks
The article reports the first confirmed cases of New World screwworm in the United States since 2016, detected in Texas. The parasitic fly larvae burrow into living tissue of livestock, posing a threat to cattle supply chains. While the USDA states the outbreak does not affect food safety, investors are concerned about potential disruptions to cattle movement and processing. The US cattle inventory is already near historic lows, and beef prices have risen 57% since 2020. Meat processors like Tyson Foods and JBS saw stock declines as traders assessed risks of tighter supplies and higher costs. The article highlights the financial vulnerability of companies dependent on steady livestock flow.
Yahoo FinanceResurgence of flesh-eating New World screwworm in Texas could take a bite out of consumer stocks
The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into living livestock tissue, has been confirmed in multiple cases in Texas—the first U.S. outbreak since 2016. While the USDA states the threat is to living animals, not food safety, investors are reacting to potential disruptions in cattle supply. The U.S. cattle inventory is already near historic lows due to drought and high feed costs, and beef prices have risen 57% since 2020. Meat processors like Tyson Foods and JBS USA saw stock declines as traders assessed tighter supplies and higher processing costs. The outbreak adds to existing pressures from restricted Mexican cattle imports, raising risks for the entire livestock-to-retail supply chain.
Yahoo FinanceNew World Screwworm in Texas Cattle Could Push Beef Prices Higher This Summer
The discovery of the invasive New World screwworm in Texas cattle threatens to exacerbate already high beef prices in the US. The parasitic fly, whose larvae burrow into living flesh, poses risks to livestock but not to public health or the food supply, according to USDA and industry officials. Beef prices, already up 12.9% year-over-year, saw a slight 1.27% drop in May after a 2.7% April rise. The US cattle herd is at a 75-year low, and the screwworm adds further disruption to ranchers' efforts to expand. The USDA and National Cattlemen's Beef Association say the outbreak is manageable with existing treatments, including a newly approved Merck pour-on product. Consumers may shift to cheaper cuts or chicken, while premium beef cuts could see further price increases.
US Top News and AnalysisNew World Screwworm Outbreak Threatens U.S. Cattle Herds and Beef Prices
The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, has been detected in cattle and a dog in Texas for the first time since 1966, threatening the already diminished U.S. cattle herd which is at a 75-year low. The outbreak comes amid severe financial stress on ranchers from drought, tariffs, and the Iran war. The article argues that the Trump administration's cuts to monitoring programs, including those by Elon Musk's DOGE and the USDA, have increased the risk. The screwworm was previously controlled for 60 years by a government program that sterilized male flies. The outbreak is expected to further spike beef prices, which have already risen 20-35% in the past year.
The American ProspectScrewworm Found in Texas Cattle After DOGE Axed Prevention Efforts, Threatening Beef Prices
The USDA confirmed the first case of New World screwworm in a Texas calf since the 1960s, a flesh-eating parasite that could drive up already soaring beef prices. The outbreak follows funding cuts by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to a monitoring program in Central America, which were implemented despite warnings from ranchers and agriculture officials. The U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low, and a wider outbreak could cause calf deaths, weight loss in adult cattle, and movement restrictions, further reducing beef supply. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the slow response and urged President Trump to deploy all federal resources to prevent an agricultural disaster.
Forbes - BusinessScrewworm Outbreak in Texas Threatens to Drive Beef Prices Higher
The USDA has confirmed the presence of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, in a calf in La Pryor, Texas, marking the first case in the U.S. since eradication efforts in the 1960s. The parasite, which burrows into the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, could cause $1.8 billion in economic losses if it spreads widely. The U.S. cattle herd is already at its lowest level in 75 years, and beef prices have risen roughly 75% since December 2020. Authorities are implementing quarantines, movement controls, and releasing millions of sterile male flies to contain and eradicate the pest. Historical outbreaks have previously driven beef prices higher, and the current situation poses a significant threat to the livestock industry and consumers.
Forbes - Business