Mexican cattle are expected to begin crossing into the United States again on Sept. 8 through the Agua Prieta-Douglas border route, after repairs address safety problems that forced the newly reopened livestock crossing to shut down Aug. 28. The Sonora Regional Livestock Union announced the expected restart after an inspection chute used by USDA personnel required repairs. The development matters for U.S. cattle markets because the crossing had only resumed operations Aug. 24 following a more than year-long shutdown tied to New World screwworm, restoring an important source of feeder cattle at a time of historically tight U.S. supplies.

USDA reopened the port at Douglas, Arizona, as part of a phased restoration of livestock trade with Mexico following restrictions imposed to prevent the northward spread of the flesh-eating parasite. The restart initially allowed approximately 700 head of cattle per day to enter the United States, according to Mexico's National Confederation of Livestock Organizations. Before the latest interruption, shipments were expected to increase to 900 head per day during the second week and eventually reach about 1,300 cattle per day, gradually rebuilding cross-border livestock flows.

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The Aug. 28 suspension was not triggered by a new screwworm detection at the crossing, but by safety concerns involving the cattle inspection chute used by USDA personnel. That distinction is significant for livestock markets because the latest disruption was operational rather than a reversal of U.S. animal-health policy. Still, the episode demonstrates how vulnerable the reopening remains after more than a year of restricted cattle movements between Mexico and the United States.

Screwworm Risk Still Hangs Over U.S.-Mexico Cattle Trade

New World screwworm remains the central animal-health concern behind Washington's cautious approach. Mexico has confirmed more than 40,600 screwworm cases since November 2024, according to government data cited in the report, while Sonora has recorded 21 cases. The parasite can infest wounds in cattle and other warm-blooded animals, making surveillance, inspection and quarantine critical as USDA attempts to restore livestock trade without increasing risks to the U.S. cattle herd.

The phased strategy means Douglas is only one piece of a broader reopening plan. USDA has indicated that it will next evaluate ports at Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico, for cattle, bison and horses. Additional crossings could increase the flow of Mexican livestock into U.S. production systems while reducing dependence on a single border route. Sonora cattle producers are also pushing for the Nogales quarantine facility to open, arguing that it already has infrastructure needed for cattle reception and pre-inspection protocols.

For U.S. cattle producers and feedlots, the pace of reopening will be closely watched. Mexican cattle have historically been an important component of feeder cattle supplies, particularly for operations in the Southwest and Southern Plains. Additional imports could improve feeder availability and support feedlot placements, but increased supply can also influence regional cattle prices and basis levels. Those market effects are particularly relevant as the U.S. beef industry operates with tight domestic cattle inventories and elevated livestock values.

The Sept. 8 reopening, if completed as planned, will therefore represent more than the repair of a border facility. It will be another test of USDA's ability to balance animal-health protection with the livestock industry's need for predictable cross-border trade. With screwworm still present in Mexico, every additional step toward normal cattle movements will depend on surveillance, quarantine infrastructure and confidence that imported animals can move safely into the U.S. supply chain.