With the ongoing drought in Texas, there are many cattle being sold for dispersal, resulting in the movement of large numbers of cattle from Texas to other states (including Mississippi) where grazing is readily available.
While this may provide an opportunity for you to make money, be careful that it doesn't wind up actually costing you money. These animals are usually of unknown disease status and if added to your herd, may introduce new diseases for which your cattle have no resistance or are not vaccinated against, costing far more in treatment and losses than any savings on the purchased cattle.
Newly purchased cattle should be kept separated for at least 2 weeks (longer if possible) before being added to your herd. Check with your veterinarian for information about vaccinations or other health issues you may need to consider.
Another issue is that we have had reports of animals moving into our state that do not meet our entry requirements. All livestock coming into Mississippi must have a Health Certificate with additional requirements for certain classes of animals.
For example, all adult cattle need to have official identification and be listed on the Health Certificate, and bulls must have a negative Trichomonas Test or a Virgin Bull Statement. Bulls that are brought into our state without Trichomonas Testing, increases the risk of introducing this disease into your herd as well as increasing the prevalence of the disease within our state.
When animals are brought into our state without proper documentation, we lose the ability to trace them should the need arise due to a disease outbreak.
In addition, the owner is subject to possible quarantine and fines. If you have any questions regarding the entry requirements of livestock in Mississippi you may go to www.mbah.state.ms.us or call Jim Watson, D.V.M., State Veterinarian: 888-646-8731. (P.O. Box 3889, Jackson, MS 39207)
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