In today’s Beef Buzz, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays speaks with Dr. Troy Shelby, veterinarian at the Oklahoma National Stockyards, past president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and vice chair of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Animal Health Committee, about the growing animal health threats facing the U.S. cattle industry. Speaking from the 2026 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Denver, Shelby said producers are closely watching both the New World screwworm situation in Texas and the spread of the Asian longhorn tick.
Multiple Pest Threats on the Industry’s Radar
Shelby said producers are currently dealing with more than one significant animal health concern. “We’ve got a lot of current issues concerning the Asian longhorn tick and an associated disease of thaleria that it carries, and mostly in the northeast part (northeast Oklahoma) right now,” Shelby said. “We’ve got the concern with that tick coming in, and also to our south in Texas, we’ve got the New World screwworm incursion, and those are things that are pretty heavy on our mind right now.”
As a veterinarian for the Oklahoma National Stockyards, Shelby regularly oversees cattle arriving from Texas and says questions about movement requirements continue to increase.
Moving Cattle Safely Across State Lines
Shelby emphasized that preventing the spread of New World screwworm depends on careful inspections and following transportation requirements. “There are two ways that the New World screwworm can move. The fly can move, and that’s by natural movement of the fly, and also by carrying it in an animal,” Shelby explained. “That tends—we can do that a lot faster if we’re not careful.”
He said producers should thoroughly inspect cattle before shipment. “It’s very important to inspect those animals, make sure they’re free of lesions and flies and little larvae,” he said.
Shelby noted that cattle coming from non-infested and non-adjacent zones can still move to approved livestock markets without a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, although markets remain vigilant. “We’re real careful to look at those cattle and make sure they’re free of lesions and that kind of thing. But be careful when you transport those cattle. Your trailers are clean, and your cattle are clean.”
However, cattle originating from infested or adjacent zones face additional requirements. “If you’re from an infested zone, you’ve got to go through APHIS with inspection, treatment and all that kind of thing. But if you’re from an adjacent zone, you have to have a veterinary inspection and a permit to come in.”
Daily Observation Is Critical
Shelby said one of the biggest concerns he hears from producers is whether New World screwworm will eventually reach Oklahoma. “A lot of them are concerned, ‘Is it going to make it to Oklahoma?’ Hope it doesn’t. Hope we get some cold weather before we get that movement.”
His advice is simple: keep a close eye on cattle every day. “It’s very important for people to be out in their cattle, inspect them on a daily basis if you can,” Shelby said. “Look for lesions, look for agitation, cattle that aren’t acting just right, maybe wounds that aren’t healing or larvae or flies.”
He also encouraged producers to maintain strong relationships with their veterinarians and report anything suspicious immediately. “Maintain that veterinary-client-patient relationship, and if you suspect something, call your veterinarian, call your county agent or somebody from USDA or the state veterinary department.”
Shelby added that fly control should remain a top priority. “Be diligent with your fly control and your herd health.”
Research and Sterile Fly Production Remain Top Priorities
At the policy level, Shelby said NCBA continues to support expanding sterile fly production and investing in research and surveillance. “We encourage the research and advancements and also the production of the sterile fly larvae,” Shelby said.
He pointed to existing sterile fly production facilities in Panama and Mexico, along with a new facility under construction in Edinburg, Texas. “They’re building a plant that’s supposed to be online later, maybe next year, to produce sterile flies.”
Shelby said continued surveillance and prevention efforts will be essential to stopping the pest before it spreads farther north.
Experience Gives the Industry an Advantage
Having witnessed previous New World screwworm eradication efforts, Shelby believes today’s cattle industry is much better prepared. “We’ve got preventatives and also treatments that weren’t available then,” Shelby said. “We’ve got injectable parasiticides… we’ve got a lot of knowledge, and we’ve got the experience of having eradicated them once before.”
Still, he cautioned that today’s wildlife populations could create new challenges. “We have a lot more wildlife. It also infects pets and wildlife, and we need to be observant of those too. We’ve got a lot more feral hogs and deer than we did back then, so that could be an issue in our control.”
Shelby said continued vigilance, proper cattle movement practices, and expanded sterile fly production will all play critical roles in preventing New World screwworm from becoming established in the United States once again.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR above for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Our coverage of the 2026 Summer Cattle Industry Business Meeting from Denver is powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
