A rancher on Saipan is expected to ship this week 12 head of cattle to Guam, Department of Land and Natural Resources Secretary Arnold I. Palacios disclosed last week.
In an interview, Palacios told reporters that CNMI veterinarian Dr. Ignacio Dela Cruz has started the vaccination and testing to prepare the cattle for shipment.
He said, this will be the first time the commonwealth is exporting livestock to Guam in more than 10 years.
This came about as a result of the enactment of Guam Public Law 32-161 which amends that island’s animal quarantine regulations to make the importation of live animals from the CNMI less restrictive.
The measure was authored by Guam Speaker Judith T. Won Pat and the late Senator Vicente C. Pangelinan.
At the same time, Gov. Eloy S. Inos worked closely with Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo last year to make inter-Marianas trade a reality.
For this effort, Inos designated Palacios as the lead person.
On Thursday, Palacios said he was happy to announce that “after the governor successfully negotiated with the Guam governor to lift the restriction on cattle imports, I was informed that one of our ranchers has made arrangement with Guam to ship 12 head of live cattle there.”
He added, “We are now doing the first shipment and establishing the necessary quarantine protocol.”
The cattle, he said, will be shipped on a barge, with each animal contained in a special trailer.
Asked if the CNMI can continue to produce cattle and other livestock for Guam, Palacios said Northern Marianas ranchers are very good in raising cattle, and there are technologies on island that can help them produce “superior breed, so that should not be a problem at all.”
SAIPAN, (MARIANAS VARIETY)
