Ag Commissioner Opens New Livestock Export Facility in Del Rio

AUSTIN, TX – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller Wednesday announced the grand opening of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) newly renovated Livestock Export Facility in Del Rio. Since taking office, Commissioner Miller has made it a top priority to upgrade existing export facilities and has successfully done so in Houston and Del Rio.

TDA has five livestock export facilities located across the state that serve as gateways for exporting livestock from Texas. Each facility provides livestock buyers and sellers with a location on the Texas border where animals can be held until inspection and export requirements are completed.

“These export facilities are tools to help get Texas livestock around the world,” Commissioner Miller said. “I am proud of my department for taking the initiative to construct these top of the line facilities.”

TDA export facilities are holding and inspection sites for livestock leaving the country. Once the livestock have been cleared for travel, they can be loaded for transport out of the United States. Livestock leaving the Brownsville, Del Rio, El Paso, and Laredo facilities are loaded for ground transport into Mexico. The Houston facility moves livestock by air and sea, covering destinations all over the world.

TDA’s grand opening event included a blessing of the livestock pens by a local priest and a ribbon cutting.  Commissioner Miller also presented a GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community certificate to the City of Del Rio and presented a plaque to the family of a longtime TDA employee of the Del Rio export facility.

“My folks here at TDA and I cannot thank the City of Del Rio enough for their support on this project,” Miller said. “They are an essential component of safely exporting Texas livestock and I know this new facility will aid in continuous positive exporting relationships.”