Iowa’s ban on packer ownership of livestock is alive — at least for a while. The federal judge who ruled a few days ago that the ban was unconstitutional has now issued a stay.Bob Brammer, a spokesman for Iowa’s Attorney General, says a stay means the ruling won’t take effect until the state’s appeal has been ruled on by a higher court.Brammer says the state is appealing the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal court. The federal district court judge’s ruling here in Iowa means the law could be in effect for up to a year. He says these matters typically take most of the year for briefing, oral arguments and then a decision. Legislators are considering changes in the state law to respond to the judge’s conclusions.