Only one case of mad cow disease has been confirmed in the United States, in a dairy cow in Washington state in December 2003. Since then, preliminary tests indicated the existence of the disease in three cows, but subsequent tests ruled out any infection.

"It's this sort of hypocrisy that makes it very difficult for the US to win any sort of trade war," Owens said at the Western Governors' Association meeting.

Owens and other governors said the US action is encouraging Canada to build its own meatpacking plants, instead of relying on plants south of its border, and taking away jobs in Western states.

The premiers of two Canadian provinces told the governors the US ban had gone on long enough.

"It's time for this nonsense to stop," Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said.

Klein said animals have been crossing the Canadian-US border for years without problems. He said the ban is hurting both countries.

Saskatchewan Premier Loren Calvert said both countries need to eliminate agriculture subsidies and promote free trade.

"I'm not sure this is beneficially mutual for either of us," he said.

Kept Out of the Food Chain

Only one case of mad cow disease has been confirmed in the United States, in a dairy cow in Washington state in December 2003. Since then, preliminary tests indicated the existence of the disease in three cows, but subsequent tests ruled out any infection.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns told the governors that public reaction was mild after additional tests performed on one of the three cows turned up positive last week.

Johanns said additional tests have been ordered, but all three cows were kept out of the food chain.

"The fact is, the safeguards did work," Johanns said.

Johanns said the new test result should not interfere with efforts to persuade foreign beef customers to reopen their markets. Dozens of countries banned US beef imports after the Washington state case. Japan, once the biggest customer of US beef, has not yet lifted its ban despite agreeing to do so last fall.

The United States imposed a ban on Canadian cattle imports after the first mad cow case there in May 2003. The US Department of Agriculture planned to reopen the border in March, but a federal judge in Billings, Mont., ordered it be kept closed at the request of ranchers suing to block Canadian cattle imports.

Greater Sage Grouse

Also Monday, the governors asked Congress to relax the Endangered Species Act so states could combine federal requirements to deal with several species at the same time.

They also established a council to help coordinate local, state and regional plans to help the greater sage grouse, which has been declining in numbers for 20 years. Its habitat is located along 110 million acres over 11 states, including northwestern Colorado.

Environmental groups sought to have the greater sage grouse placed on the federal endangered species list. The US Fish and Wildlife Service rejected the petition in January but said conservation efforts should be continued.

Listing the bird as endangered or threatened would place restrictions on grazing, oil and gas leasing and hunting. Western officials have said cooperation with landowners rather than regulation will help save the birds.