SANTA TERESA, N.M. -- Breeding cattle were finally allowed into Mexico Wednesday after years of restrictions following a case of mad cow disease back in late 2003.

Mexico granted permission for 37 black angus bulls to cross the border.

The bulls were checked by a Mexico approved veterinarian and tagged for export at the livestock border crossing in Santa Teresa.

Mexican officials required each bull be thoroughly inspected.

"This is the first day that any beef bulls are going to cross into Mexico since December 2003, when a BSE case popped in the U.S. This is an important day for the cattle industry,” said Jay Whetten, vice president of the Chihuahua, Mexico Cattlemen’s organization.

Since 2003, U.S has $35 million in pending sales of cattle to Mexico when the country closed the border in fear.

Mexico, however, continued to export 1 million head cattle into the United States each year.

”It was something that was a little scary to some people but in actuality it was a very low impact for people, but a terrible impact on our industry,” said veteranarian Bob Bohlander from Nebraska.

Beef and breeding cattle still have many restrictions, though dairy cows regained access to Mexico soon after Mexican officials closed off cattle trade.

“Since milk in most any country is considered a basic food element, there was a special protocol,” said Whetten.

Whetten said the sale and trade of his 37 bulls have become a catalyst for the rest of the United States.

More than 80 more cattle are expected to cross into Mexico on Friday.

“What we're interested more than anything else is getting the gate open and getting the door open,” said Whetten.

Now that the door is open, supply and demand will find a better balance between borders.

"Chihuahua needs about 5,000 more breeding bulls and we sure have a lot of them. We do in Nebraska and I know they do in South Dakota and Iowa.” said Bohlander.

Livestock experts said for every dollar of beef imported into the U.S., the states export seven dollars worth of beef.