Alabama Beef Leaders Sound the Alarm
With New World screwworm now detected in the United States, the pest has moved from a concern outside the country's borders to a topic of constant discussion throughout the cattle industry. Producers across the Southeast are being encouraged to stay alert.
According to the Alabama Farmers Federation, now is the time to focus on prevention and observation. Beef Director Chris Prevatt, who previously worked at the University of Florida's Range Cattle Research and Education Center, says producers should implement stringent fly control protocols and pay close attention to newborn calves, post-partum cows and recently handled cattle that may have open wounds.
New World screwworm is spread by adult flies that lay larvae in wounds on living animals. The parasites can cause extensive tissue damage if left untreated. Prevatt says producers should watch for cattle standing off from the herd, loss of appetite and other abnormal behavior that could signal a problem.
He also emphasized that New World screwworm is an animal health concern, not a food safety issue. Prevatt says awareness, preventative measures and early reporting remain some of the most important tools producers have. For additional information and resources, visit Screwworm.gov.
