The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) is responsible for protecting 

the health of American agriculture, 

including our livestock industries. As part of 

our mission, APHIS leads the Cattle Fever 

Tick Eradication Program, a cooperative 

effort started in 1906, to rid the country of 

a serious cattle disease called babesiosis. 

The program depends on Federal and State 

animal health officials, the cattle industry, 

and producers working together to prevent 

the spread of this tick-borne illness. 

Commonly called cattle fever, babesiosis causes cattle 

to lose weight, produce less milk, and even die. The 

disease caused enormous losses to the cattle industry in 

the past. Before the eradication program began, direct 

and indirect economic losses were estimated to be 

$130.5 million—more than $3 billion today. USDA and its 

partners worked together to eradicate the disease from 

the country by 1943, except for a permanent quarantine 

area along the Texas/Mexico border where the ticks that 

carry this disease are still found. Mexico continues to find 

babesiosis, so this buffer zone plays an important role in 

keeping ticks from spreading the disease back into the 

United States.

USDA works closely with the Texas Animal Health 

Commission (TAHC) to carry out cattle fever tick 

eradication efforts. USDA manages the permanent 

quarantine area, while TAHC facilitates temporary 

quarantines on infested premises in counties north of 

the permanent zone. Both agencies are involved with 

treatment and inspection activities, and they work out of 

joint offices in some locations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 

(USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS) is responsible for protecting 

the health of American agriculture, 

including our livestock industries. As part of 

our mission, APHIS leads the Cattle Fever 

Tick Eradication Program, a cooperative 

effort started in 1906, to rid the country of 

a serious cattle disease called babesiosis. 

The program depends on Federal and State 

animal health officials, the cattle industry, 

and producers working together to prevent 

the spread of this tick-borne illness. 

Commonly called cattle fever, babesiosis causes cattle 

to lose weight, produce less milk, and even die. The 

disease caused enormous losses to the cattle industry in 

the past. Before the eradication program began, direct 

and indirect economic losses were estimated to be 

$130.5 million—more than $3 billion today. USDA and its 

partners worked together to eradicate the disease from 

the country by 1943, except for a permanent quarantine 

area along the Texas/Mexico border where the ticks that 

carry this disease are still found. Mexico continues to find 

babesiosis, so this buffer zone plays an important role in 

keeping ticks from spreading the disease back into the 

United States.

USDA works closely with the Texas Animal Health 

Commission (TAHC) to carry out cattle fever tick 

eradication efforts. USDA manages the permanent 

quarantine area, while TAHC facilitates temporary 

quarantines on infested premises in counties north of 

the permanent zone. Both agencies are involved with 

treatment and inspection activities, and they work out of 

joint offices in some locations.
How the Program Works

USDA or TAHC inspects all livestock within the 

permanent quarantine zone for ticks every year. 

USDA or TAHC inspectors must also treat, inspect, 

and certify all cattle as tick-free before they can 

move out of the quarantine zone to prevent ticks 

from spreading. In addition, USDA and TAHC set 

up temporary quarantines as needed if the ticks 

are found outside of the permanent quarantine 

zone. These animals must also be treated and 

inspected before leaving quarantine.

There are separate rules for releasing the 

temporary quarantines and returning the land to 

normal status. If you have questions about that 

process, contact USDA or TAHC officials.

To help combat the spread of ticks, USDA also 

has a cadre of “tick riders,” or mounted patrol 

inspectors, who ride along the Texas/Mexico 

border looking for livestock that stray across the 

border. They round up any stray livestock they 

find, inspect them for ticks, and then treat them 

before returning them to their owners.

What You Need To Know 

About Treatments

If your premises is quarantined for cattle fever ticks, Federal 

and State animal health regulations require all of your livestock, 

including horses, to be treated. The treatment options vary 

based on what animals you have and how you plan to use or 

move the animals. When your premises is quarantined, animal 

health officials will work with you to develop a herd plan.

In general, the treatment options mentioned below are currently 

available. USDA and TAHC are researching additional options for 

use in livestock and wildlife. If proven to be safe and effective, 

these will be made available as well.

If you are looking to move or sell your animals out of a 

quarantined area, regulations spell out which treatments you 

need to complete and when you need to complete them. 

The options are more limited because of required treatment 

withdrawal periods. Animals moving within Texas must follow 

TAHC regulations. Animals leaving Texas for another State must 

follow State and USDA regulations.

All quarantined premises must have a herd plan in place, even 

if it is not signed. Please consult with State or Federal animal 

health officials when developing your herd plan and before 

treatment begins. This will help you determine which treatment 

protocol is best and ensure that you meet all requirements. 

Cattle Treatment Options 

OPTION 1 • Dipping Vats

Most producers treat their cattle by running them through a 

dipping vat every 14 days. This treatment uses the chemical 

coumaphos, which has no withdrawal period.

Dipping vats are located throughout the permanent quarantine 

area for ranchers to use. USDA personnel oversee the dipping 

vats to ensure they are used correctly to kill ticks.

If you cannot bring your herd to a public dipping vat due to 

distance, portable dipping vats may be available for large herds 

(more than 100 cattle). USDA personnel bring these dipping vats 

to your premises and oversee their use.
What You Need To Know 

About Treatments

If your premises is quarantined for cattle fever ticks, Federal 

and State animal health regulations require all of your livestock, 

including horses, to be treated. The treatment options vary 

based on what animals you have and how you plan to use or 

move the animals. When your premises is quarantined, animal 

health officials will work with you to develop a herd plan.

In general, the treatment options mentioned below are currently 

available. USDA and TAHC are researching additional options for 

use in livestock and wildlife. If proven to be safe and effective, 

these will be made available as well.

If you are looking to move or sell your animals out of a 

quarantined area, regulations spell out which treatments you 

need to complete and when you need to complete them. 

The options are more limited because of required treatment 

withdrawal periods. Animals moving within Texas must follow 

TAHC regulations. Animals leaving Texas for another State must 

follow State and USDA regulations.

All quarantined premises must have a herd plan in place, even 

if it is not signed. Please consult with State or Federal animal 

health officials when developing your herd plan and before 

treatment begins. This will help you determine which treatment 

protocol is best and ensure that you meet all requirements. 

Cattle Treatment Options 

OPTION 1 • Dipping Vats

Most producers treat their cattle by running them through a 

dipping vat every 14 days. This treatment uses the chemical 

coumaphos, which has no withdrawal period.

Dipping vats are located throughout the permanent quarantine 

area for ranchers to use. USDA personnel oversee the dipping 

vats to ensure they are used correctly to kill ticks.

If you cannot bring your herd to a public dipping vat due to 

distance, portable dipping vats may be available for large herds 

(more than 100 cattle). USDA personnel bring these dipping vats 

to your premises and oversee their use.

How the Program Works

USDA or TAHC inspects all livestock within the 

permanent quarantine zone for ticks every year. 

USDA or TAHC inspectors must also treat, inspect, 

and certify all cattle as tick-free before they can 

move out of the quarantine zone to prevent ticks 

from spreading. In addition, USDA and TAHC set 

up temporary quarantines as needed if the ticks 

are found outside of the permanent quarantine 

zone. These animals must also be treated and 

inspected before leaving quarantine.

There are separate rules for releasing the 

temporary quarantines and returning the land to 

normal status. If you have questions about that 

process, contact USDA or TAHC officials.

To help combat the spread of ticks, USDA also 

has a cadre of “tick riders,” or mounted patrol 

inspectors, who ride along the Texas/Mexico 

border looking for livestock that stray across the 

border. They round up any stray livestock they 

find, inspect them for ticks, and then treat them 

before returning them to their owners.