Livestock Marketing Information Center
In The Cattle Markets
Updated: 6/8/2026
Ripple Effects of Screwworm Concerns
New World Screwworm has been dominating the headlines for the past week. The USDA has established a dashboard to show the impacts in the U.S. The cases so far have been isolated in Texas. The broader implications are the cases in Mexico, the continued closed border to imports of feeder cattle for Mexico, and the high demand for beef that is difficult to meet in isolation.
Livestock Monitor
Updated: 6/8/2026
NEW WORLD SCREWWORM CASES DETECTED IN U.S.
USDA confirmed on June 8, 2026, two additional cases of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Texas, bringing the total number of cases to four. These two new cases involve a calf in La Salle County and a dog, which had recently been in Mexico, in Andrews County. The original first two cases were confirmed in very young calves found about 6 miles apart in Zavala County. La Salle and Zavala Counties are in South Texas while Andrews County is in West Texas, bordering New Mexico. USDA is establishing 20-kilometer infested zones around each detection site, including quarantines, surveillance, and movement controls within the area.
HOG SECTOR UPDATE
The June Hogs and Pigs report will be released later this month by USDA-NASS on June 25, 2026. The focus in the June report will be on the breeding herd and sow farrowings as those are driving factors into production through 2026 and into 2027. Prior Hogs and Pigs reports have been showing a measured approach to production. This is evident by the breeding herd remaining below six million head for over a year and sow farrowings tracking below three million head for the better part of two years. With year-to-date sow slaughter through May down about 45,000 head (-4%), the June report will likely signal that these trends are expected to continue.
DAIRY MARKET PRICE TRENDS EXPECTED TO FIRM UP IN SECOND HALF
The dairy herd expansion continues to move ahead in 2026 with 79,000 cows added to the herd from December to April. A year ago, 100,000 cows were added to the herd during the same interval. Milk production during the first quarter of this year was up +3% with 1% of the increase accounted for by more milk per cow. Assuming milk cow productivity this quarter matches the gain in the first quarter of 2026, milk production should be up close to +3% from a year ago in the spring quarter. The All-Milk price at the farm reported by USDA-NASS averaged $18.50 per cwt in the first quarter, down close to $5 from a year earlier and down $1 from the last quarter in 2025.
