Mexican Livestock
Trade Up And Down

LAS CRUCES, N.M. —(USDA)— Livestock trade between the U.S. and Mexico is up and down so far this year.

For the first five months of the year there have been 430,226 feeder cattle imported from Mexico, a decrease of 33 percent from the same period a year ago.

During the same period there has been a 76 percent increase in livestock exports to Mexico at 351,889 head.

Beef cattle exports are down six percent for the five month period at 41,665 head, including 40,122 going for slaughter. Dairy cattle exports are down 26 percent at 7614 head.

Hog exports are 14 times as many as a year ago at 111,045 head. There were restrictions against hogs moving into Mexico the first part of last year. That figure includes 96,939 head for slaughter. There were 14,106 breeding hogs exported, up 82 percent.

Sheep exports to Mexico are up 43 percent at 181,589, including 145,778 slaughter ewes and 35,700 lambs.

Goat numbers going to Mexico are up slightly from a year ago at 7405 head, all for slaughter.

A total of 1769 horses went to Mexico this year, up 76 percent and including 346 head for slaughter. There were also 802 exotics exported, down 60 percent.