# Screwworm Fears are Reshaping the U.S. Cattle Feeding Industry

> Mexican live cattle exports fell 78.2% in 2025 to $335 million after the New World screwworm suspension. Feedlot inventories are tightening and placements are falling, with some Southwest feedlots facing closure. USDA data show feedlot inventory down 2% and January placements down 5%.

- Date: 2026-03-27 · published 2026-03-27T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: disease · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/20119-screwworm-fears-are-reshaping-the-u-s-cattle-feeding-industry
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Lower feeder supplies and placements tighten the feeder cattle market, supporting prices, while the border shutdown continues.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2024-12-19 | [U.S. Cattle Industry Faces Challenges Amid Screwworm Detection in Mexico - Beef Web](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26911-u-s-cattle-industry-faces-challenges-amid-screwworm-detection-in-mexico-beef-web.md) | +0.9% | +6.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-04-06 | [Why are cattle prices surging in the U.S. right now?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10267-why-are-cattle-prices-surging-in-the-u-s-right-now.md) | +0.3% | -0.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2024-11-28 | [Screwworms impacting cattle trade](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27348-screwworms-impacting-cattle-trade.md) | -1.5% | +1.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-10-26 | [Cattle from Mexico are tested for screwworm at the border \| AP News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17077-cattle-from-mexico-are-tested-for-screwworm-at-the-border-ap-news.md) | -3.5% | — |
| FCATTLE | 2025-09-24 | [Screwworm threat tightens US beef supply, lifts feeders - CME
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/23007-screwworm-threat-tightens-us-beef-supply-lifts-feeders-cme-the-cattle-site.md) | -1.0% | +2.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-12-19 | [U.S. Cattle Industry Faces Challenges Amid Screwworm Detection in Mexico - Beef Web](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26911-u-s-cattle-industry-faces-challenges-amid-screwworm-detection-in-mexico-beef-web.md) | +0.5% | +3.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-04-06 | [Why are cattle prices surging in the U.S. right now?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10267-why-are-cattle-prices-surging-in-the-u-s-right-now.md) | +3.1% | +3.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-05-09 | [Nicaragua reports screwworm outbreak in cattle
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/30190-nicaragua-reports-screwworm-outbreak-in-cattle-the-cattle-site.md) | +0.6% | +2.4% |

## Sources

- agdaily.com: https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/screwworm-fears-are-reshaping-the-u-s-cattle-feeding-industry/

---
Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.