U.S. Livestock Exports
To Mexico Near Double

LAS CRUCES, N.M. —(USDA)— U.S. livestock exports to Mexico for the first six months of the year were up 72 percent over the same period last year.

Hog exports to Mexico showed the largest increase due to the lifting of restrictions on slaughter hogs the first of June last year. Hog exports are up more than 12 times the number of the first six months of last year at 134,597 head, including 118,390 for slaughter.

Sheep exports to Mexico are up 39 percent at 214,352, slaughter ewes are up 12 percent at 171,319 head while slaughter lambs were 42,850 head and none last year.

Beef cattle exports were up nine percent at 47,690 head, and included 45,315 for slaughter and 2375 breeding animals. Dairy cattle exports were down 23 percent at 8544 head.

Slaughter goat exports were down 15 percent at 11,492 head. Horses were up 56 percent at 2033 head. Exotic animal exports were 989 head compared with 2115 last year.