[JURIST] The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] heard oral arguments Wednesday in a challenge to Montana District Court Judge Richard Cebull's March ruling [JURIST report] barring the resumed importation of Canadian cattle to the US. US attorney Mark Stern represented the US Department of Agriculture, and urged the court to lift the temporary injunction that bars the shipment of live Canadian cattle under 30 months of age. Stern challenged respondents Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund [advocacy website] experts who contend that Canadian herds are often infected with BSE, also known as Mad Cow Disease [USDA fact sheet], and current border screening measures are insufficient to prevent the spread of the disease to livestock in the US. Canadian Press has more on Wednesday's arguments.