Animal owners and ranchers now have a new tool to help navigate livestock movement requirements related to New World screwworm (NWS).

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, launched the New World Screwworm Movement Guidance resource to provide quick access to current requirements for moving animals from NWS-infested zones in Texas.

The online platform is designed to help producers, veterinarians, NWS Certified Inspectors and others identify the requirements that apply to specific movement situations.

All livestock, equine, poultry, exotics of these species and groups of rescue animals leaving an NWS-infested zone must meet current requirements before movement. These requirements vary by species, intended use of the animal, type of movement, premises of origin and destination.

The NWS Movement Guidance resource is designed to simplify identifying the correct movement requirements for various situations.

NWS Treatment/Movement Certificates must be issued by a responder deployed with the NWS response, an NWS Certified Inspector or an authorized veterinarian.

TAHC also maintains a list of NWS Certified Inspectors who have agreed to share their contact information.

The online resource is intended as a quick reference, but producers with questions about individual situations can contact their TAHC region office, local inspectors or responders deployed as part of the NWS response.

Additional requirements may apply when animals are moved across state lines.

Each state can establish its own NWS-related entry requirements. Producers planning interstate movement should work with their private veterinarian, and a certificate of veterinary inspection must be issued.

TAHC encourages animal owners to check with the destination state’s animal health office for its current entry requirements before moving animals.

The NWS Movement Guidance resource is available through the TAHC NWS webpage or at agalert.tamu.edu/nwsguide.

Additional NWS information is available from TAHC and at USDA’s screwworm.gov. A current list of approved NWS treatments is also available from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.