Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for granting conditional approval of Exzolt Cattle-CA1, the first topical drug in the United States approved to treat and control both New World screwworm and Cattle Fever Tick in cattle.
Miller described the decision as a landmark achievement for livestock health and a major win for the nation’s cattle industry, noting the significant threats these pests pose. The New World screwworm can kill cattle within days, while the Cattle Fever Tick has historically devastated herds in Texas.
Exzolt Cattle-CA1 uses a topical formulation that absorbs through the skin, targeting external parasites and systemic infections while reducing stress on animals and improving usability for ranchers. Miller emphasized that the treatment provides modern, science-backed tools to protect herds ranging from small family operations to large-scale beef producers.
The approval comes as New World screwworm has recently been detected in northern Mexico, near the U.S. border, and the Cattle Fever Tick quarantine zone along the Rio Grande continues to face pressure from wildlife movement, climate conditions, and cross-border livestock transport.
