A motion filed by Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) to block the import of older cattle into the United States from Canada has been denied by a federal judge, the American Meat Institute (AMI) reported.

According to AMI, the judge found the request moot.

R-CALF filed a lawsuit last November seeking to enjoin a rule published by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) allowing older cattle from Canada to enter the United States. The rule, however, went into effect Nov. 19, 2007, and older cattle have been coming into the country, AMI reports.

In addition to denying the temporary restraining order request, the court set a hearing date of Feb. 19, 2008, for argument on R-CALF’s motion for a preliminary injunction.