Texas Cattle Feeders Association 

 August 8, 2007

For immediate release---

Fever Tick Meeting for Ranchers, Land Owners

Set for August 15 at the 4H Grounds in Carrizo Springs

A fever tick meeting for land and livestock owners from Webb, Dimmit and Maverick counties has been set for 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 15, at the 4H grounds (one block southwest of the intersection of highways US 277 & US 83) in Carrizo Springs.  On August 2, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) established a temporary preventive fever tick quarantine in parts of the three counties after several premises in Dimmit and Maverick counties were found to have ticks which are capable of transmitting "Texas Fever," a deadly livestock disease.  A portion of Webb County is included in the quarantine, due to its close proximity to known tick-infested premises.

"We will provide information about fever ticks, discuss wildlife implications, explain livestock movement requirements and answer questions from ranchers or land owners impacted by this preventive quarantine," explained Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas' state veterinarian and head of the TAHC, the state's livestock and poultry health regulatory agency.  "Participants will have an opportunity to talk with representatives from the TAHC, USDA's Veterinary Services and, of course, the USDA's Tick Force."

Before livestock can be shipped from the preventive quarantine area, the animals must be manually inspected for fever ticks, dipped and permitted for movement by the Tick Force or TAHC personnel.  To arrange for livestock inspection and/or dipping, ranchers should call the Eagle Pass office of the USDA's Fever Tick Force at 830-773-5542 or 830-773-5565, or contact supervisor Alonzo Zambrano at 830-776-0061.

The temporary preventive quarantined area begins in Eagle Pass (Maverick County) at the junction of FM 1021 (Mines Road) and Highway 277, and continues southeasterly on Highway 277 to its intersection with Highway 83 in Carrizo Springs (Dimmit County).  The boundary line follows Highway 83 to its intersection with FM 2688, and then continues on this road to its junction with the Mines Road (FM 1021). The area is bounded to the west by Mines Road (FM 1021) from its junction with FM 2688 in Webb County to its intersection with Highway 277 in Eagle Pass.

TCFA staff will attend the meeting.  Please call Ross, Ben or Josh with any questions.

Thanks.