New World Screwworm Update-------
As of the end of last week, many of us in Tom Green county as well as several other counties are now in New World Screwworm infested zones. A case of screwworms was found in the Grape Creek area last Friday and the Texas Animal Health Commission has created a roughly 25 mile diameter area around the location where the screwworms were found and that is now considered an infested area.
If you are concerned you may be in an infested area but are not sure, you can go to the Texas Animal Health Commissions website which is tahc.texas.gov and go to their area map and enter your property location and it will show you if you are in an infested area. All warm blooded animals in those areas currently have movement restrictions.
That includes not only your sheep, goats, and cattle but horses, cats, and dogs and any other warm-blooded pets or livestock.
If you need help figuring out if your place is in an area with movement restrictions, call us at Producers and we’ll help you make that determination. You can also go to our website at producersandcargile.com or our facebook page and we’ll have some links there to the website I mentioned earlier as well as others.
Once you figure out if you are in an infested area, you can read their website for current regulations regarding restrictions for that area which definitely includes not moving any warm-blooded animal out of the area without a permit.
We, as well as others, are working with USDA and the TAHC to create a system for dealing with this issue that is a problem but that has been blown out of proportion. We have been through this problem before and solved it and hopefully soon they’ll let us move forward as we should.
Producers Livestock Auction is out of the area, but just barely. We will be having sales as usual this week.
Animals from within a restricted zone are not supposed to move without a permit, but everyone else is fine for movement.
That said, if you don’t absolutely have to sell your sheep or goats this week, you may put your plans on hold for a week or two until maybe we can get some of the issues sorted out so that Producers can market your livestock as always. As always we never know what any animal is going to bring until it’s sold. If it is time to get yours sold and your livestock are not in an infested zone, we’ll do our best to get top dollar for whatever you bring us.
As many of you know, a significant portion of the sheep and goats move out of state after they sell and we have to work with other states to get them to allow free movement so that we can return the most dollars possible to you the consignor.
In the meantime, keep an eye on all of your animals and look for the signs of screwworms. Generally, the animal will have to have some sort of open wound for the flies to lay their larvae. Healthy wound-free animals should not have any issues, but even a wet navel on a baby calf can create an issue. There are simple effective treatments for cases that are found relatively quickly so be diligent. There are also preventative medicines. There is more information on websites.
We will do our best at Producers to stay on top of this issue and keep y’all updated on anything we hear. This is nothing to panic about, only a major inconvenience to all of us that hopefully will soon pass.
Your local veterinarian is always a resource as well.
Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) tahc.texas.gov
TAHC Vet line 1-800-550-8242
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) screwworm.gov
Infestation Zone Map tahc.maps.arcgis.com
***Proper feeding and care at the livestock market can reduce shrink and increase your sale dollars!***
The following calculation is based on an actual steer price sold at Producers Livestock on May 15, 2025. Assume the calf weighed 600# at the ranch and was delivered to Producers right off the cow. Depending on disposition of the calf and distance to town, that steer will possibly shrink 2-5% just getting to town, also assume that if not fed, watered, and handled correctly that calf can lose additional weight before sold.
Our goal is to replace that shrink as much as possible before that animal sells. We accomplish that by keeping your livestock separate from other people’s livestock, matching the group size with the proper pen size, and providing plenty of clean water and good feed.
Example: Assume that 600# calf sells as listed below:
Calf shrinks 6% or 36#... cost to customer is 36# x $3.87= ($139.32)
Calf shrinks 3% or 18#...cost to customer is 18# x $3.87 = ($69.66)
Calf shrinks 0%...cost to customer is 0# x $3.87 = $0.00
Calf gains 1% or 6#... customer makes an extra 6# x $3.87 = $23.22
Lastly, assume that calf arrived at the auction Wednesday morning for the Thursday sale. The total cost to feed that calf until the sale time would be 2 days x $.60/cwt x 600# (assuming that is what he weighed when sold) = $7.20
Questions to ask yourself:
1) How do you handle shrink and how does your market handle shrink?
2) Does your market keep your livestock separate from others?
3) Are there ample water and feed troughs for the livestock to use with minimal interference
4) Does your market have a full-time experienced crew feeding your livestock twice daily?
Take away:
Cattle with the proper fill of quality feed and clean water will make sellers and buyers more money by reducing shrink and by being healthier going forward.
The State of Texas is enforcing rules and regulations for livestock entering Texas. If these rules and regulations are not followed, then we will be unable to accept your consignment to sale. Proper tagging and documenation are required for all livestock.
For information, please call JR Hudson with Texas Animal Health Commission at 325.451.7869.
PLEASE CALL BEFORE YOU HAUL!!!
Large volume attracts more buying power. The greatest concentration of sheep and goat buyers from all around the United States where competition establishes the goat, lamb, Mexico export sheep market, and domestic Ethnic market. Take advantage of Producer's marketing services to assure yourself of getting full market value for your sheep and goats.
Our sheep and goat order buying division is buying livestock daily. For your private treaty sales or purchases call Benny Cox or David Quam at (325) 653-3371.
Producers Livestock Auction Company has been owned and operated by the Cargile family since 1954. Producers serves the stockmen of West Texas with a sheep and goat sale every Tuesday and a cattle sale every Thursday.
Our number one goal is to provide a market for true price discovery to determine the actual value of your livestock.
- Strong Financial Background-- Under Cargile family ownership since 1954
- Open 7 days a week - 24 hours a day -we're always here to receive and load livestock.
- We keep your livestock separate from others so that we can properly feed them in advance of the sale for the optimum fill and minimize shrink, even adding weight back to livestock that has been hauled long distances to the sale.
- Professional sorting of livestock, so we can sell them in uniform groups.
- Excellent feed & water and facilities, along with a full-time feed crew.
- Regular sales, Special sales, & Private treaty sales, all available for customers convenience.
- Our employees work for us everyday and not just on sale days. Many of them have been with us for many years, giving a high level of expertise when it comes to handling your livestock.
We encourage you to call us for your marketing needs whether they are through the sale or private treaty. We do it all.
The Cargile Family
Owner
