#livestock

#livestock

Mexico has reported a 53 percent increase in cases of flesh-eating screwworm in animals over the past month, as the parasite continues its northward trajectory towards the United States border, according to government data. Mexican government data indicate that there were 5,086 cases as of August 17, including 649 active ones, the Reuters news agency reported on Thursday, citing updated data not yet made public.

John Joe Fitzgerald, Vice President of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, recounted the harrowing experience of a farmer in West Kerry whose sheep suffered severe injuries from a dog attack. The emotional toll of witnessing injured sheep and lost lambs profoundly impacted John Joe and inspired action against the ongoing crisis.

Screwworms are a significant threat as they lay eggs in the wounds of warm-blooded animals, leading to intense pain and life-threatening infections.

The ongoing decline of Ireland's national herd, including a substantial drop in dairy cow numbers, signals a shift in agricultural practices rather than a mere downturn in farming.