• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • Allied Members
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Young Cattle Raisers
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Summer Meeting
    • Policy Conference
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Membership Center
    • Membership Center Instructions
  • Join
  • Renew
  • Show Search
Hide Search

TSCRA submits comments and encourages member comments on new CWD rule proposals

Member comments can be based on the comments below, submitted by TSCRA.

Click here to submit your own comments

TSCRA’s Comments on Proposed Chronic Wasting Disease Rules

Mitch Lockwood
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, Texas 78744

Dear Mr. Lockwood:

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) is a 144-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 55,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pastureland, primarily in Texas, Oklahoma and the Southwest.

TSCRA supports Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) proposed amendments to rules governing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). It is our hope that these efforts will help curtail the spread of this debilitating disease in Texas. CWD not only reduces the number of cervid species available to hunters, but also harms the many Texas landowners who depend on hunting as a significant source of income.

Increased testing and permanent identification tags are two measures that we as cattle producers fully understand the value of. TSCRA has long supported equal or similar health practices and standards for combating wildlife diseases as those used in the cattle industry. In our own industry we are faced with more than fifteen different regulated cattle diseases. Regulations for these diseases require cattle producers to comply with movement restrictions, quarantines, testing requirements, permanent identification requirements, etc. that may seem burdensome and overbearing to some, but are crucial in protecting our livelihood. Protocols like these promote animal health and productivity, protect the marketability of beef products, and most importantly, they ensure consumers are receiving a safe and healthy product for their families.

Many of our members, along with countless other ranchers and landowners, are left vulnerable when deer are released without a CWD test or identification into areas where their detainment is not guaranteed. With the possibility of these animals coming onto adjacent properties, insurmountable damage to existing wildlife is all but certain. However, thanks to the increased testing prior to release and mandatory identification of these released species, we hope ranchers and landowners will be better protected from the spread of CWD.

Thank you for your continued vigilance to ensure the impacts of CWD are minimized for both Texas wildlife and Texas landowners. We also greatly appreciate the inclusion of Texas ranchers on the TPWD’s Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force. This collaboration between the State of Texas and private landowners will be essential to mitigate the crippling effects of CWD.

If you have any questions regarding these comments or TSCRA’s position, please contact Peyton Schumann at (512) 469-0171 or [email protected]

Respectfully,

G. Hughes Abell
President           

Written by:
Jeremy Fuchs
Published on:
October 29, 2021

Categories: TSCRA Update

Recent Posts

Texas direct hay report for August 19

August 19, 2022

Compared to the last report: Hay prices remain firm to 10.00 higher in all regions. Spotty rains …

Continue Reading about Texas direct hay report for August 19

U.S. drought monitor and summary report for August 16

August 19, 2022

This Week's Drought Summary Precipitation again varied widely across the Lower 48 this week, …

Continue Reading about U.S. drought monitor and summary report for August 16

Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for August 19

August 19, 2022

Texas Compared to last week: Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to 5.00 higher. Trade was …

Continue Reading about Texas, Oklahoma weekly livestock auction summaries for August 19

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
Allied Members
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Young Cattle Raisers
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Media Kit
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2022 Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE

We Live For This Land