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Importing Live Cattle and Bison from

Mexico to the United States

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USDA APHIS regulates the importation of all ruminants and their germplasm

(embryos/oocytes, semen, cloning tissue) to prevent the spread of animal diseases.

Ruminants include all animals which chew the cud, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep,

goats, deer, antelopes, camels, llamas and giraffes.
View Countries From Which Bovines and Their Germplasm May Be Imported

Requirements

Ports of Entry

Southern Border Ports

Texas: Brownsville, Hidalgo, Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, and Presidio

Arizona: Douglas, Naco, Nogales, Sasabe, and San Luis

California: Calexico and San Ysidro

New Mexico: Antelope Wells, Columbus, and Santa Teresa

Air/Ocean

Newburg, NY

Miami, FL

Los Angeles, CA

** Please see 9CFR 93.403 for list of special/limited ports of entry

Live Domestic Cattle and Bison

Protocols for the Import of Feeder Cattle, Breeding Cattle, and

Cattle for Immediate Slaughter from Mexico to the United

States; no permit is required

Protocol for the Import of Sexually Intact (Breeder) Bovines from Mexico into

the United States (1.42 MB) (May 2022)

Model Health Certificate: Breeding Cattle and Bison from Mexico (73.96 KB)

Protocol for the Import of Steers and Spayed Heifers Cattle and Bison (Feeders)

from Mexico (407.16 KB) (April 2022)

Model Health Certificate: Feeder Cattle and Bison from Mexico (73.92 KB)

Model Health Certificate: Slaughter Cattle and Bison from Mexico (73.92 KB)

Transit Canadian Cattle and Bison to Mexico (39.39 KB)

Questions and Answers: Transit Canadian Cattle and Bison to Mexico

(31.37 KB)
Bovine Tuberculosis Requirements for Cattle from Mexico

VS Bulletin 2023.1 Bovine Tuberculosis Testing Requirements for Cattle

Imported to the United States from Mexico

Additional Import Guidance

VSG 13416.2 Spayed Heifers from Mexico (1.21 MB)

VSG 13414.2 Branding Requirements for Imported Mexican Bovines (275.98 KB)

(Cattle/Bison)

Bovine Embryos

Bovine embryos are not permitted to be imported from Mexico at this time.

Bovine Semen

Bovine semen is not permitted to be imported from Mexico at this time.

What You Need To Know

U.S. transits are classified as shipments presented to a U.S. port of entry for

conveyance purposes to then be transported to a destination country shortly

after. Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import

Transit Permits (272.29 KB).

Please note that any animals and their germplasm transiting the United States

must not transit countries with questionable disease statuses prior to reaching

a U.S. port of entry.

All transits require a contingency plan. Please submit your contingency plan

with your permit application (VS 17-129 (106.94 KB)) to laipermits@usda.gov.

To submit an import permit electronically, visit APHIS eFile.

If you are applying to import live animals, semen, and embryos, you may submit

applications by email to laipermits@usda.gov

Contact Us
Live Animal Imports

For questions about import permits or permit applications:

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Email: laipermits@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3000

For general questions related to the import of a live animal:

Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300

All Contacts