FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 15, 2016
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
512-922-7328

Fort Worth, Texas – The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) submitted comments on Monday to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) regarding the TAHC’s proposal to amend §41.8 of the Texas Administrative Code relating to the dipping, treatment and vaccination of animals for fever ticks.

“The fever tick issue is very important to TSCRA members, especially in south Texas and the Rio Grande Valley,” said TSCRA president Richard Thorpe. “Ranchers need flexibility when dealing with federal and state fever tick regulations and TSCRA is asking for the TAHC to address this concern in their rule proposal.

The TAHC’s proposed rule includes a 100% gather requisite and frequency at which TAHC requires livestock operators to gather, treat, and inspect their their entire herd. TSCRA believes this is unattainable and therefore impossible for operators to comply with the current proposed rule.

“We appreciate the continued efforts of the TAHC to help eradicate the fever tick and we look forward to working with them to come up with practical solutions that allow cattle production to continue to thrive in the area. TSCRA will continue monitoring this issue and addressing members’ concerns,” Thorpe concluded.

To read the comments TSCRA submitted, click HERE.

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TSCRA is a 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.