America has temporarily blocked cattle imports from Mexico due to the rise in concern over the New World screwworm.
Experts say this parasite poses a multibillion-dollar threat to the Texas cattle industry.
Carter Johnson, the CEO of Fort Worth Cattle Co., told NBC DFW, "It's really bad, it kills a lot of cattle, it kills a lot of wildlife. Can get in any, you know, dogs, humans, pretty scary."
Though the screwworm was eradicated in Texas in the '60s, we've seen a surge in cattle in Mexico as of late, and at a point in time where beef places are already at record highs.
Wayne Cockrell, a member of the board of directors of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, says that cutting off cattle imports from Mexico has only drive up the already record costs.
"Less inventory -- it's increased the prices," he said. "Closing that border, that's 1.25 to 1.5 million cattle a year that cross, so just the timing of that is why this had an impact."
The USDA has announced plans to build a new fly factory in Mexico to help mitigate the threat.
Texas ranchers are just concerned that they've taken enough action to keep their cattle alive. "It is a real problem," said Johnson. "And if we have to worry about that, that brings a lot of uncertainty to the market, and I have no idea what that's going to do."
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