6 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2026 THE ONLY PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO THE NEBRASKA CATTLE INDUSTRY. NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2026 Vol. 82 | Issue 2 REGULARS Insights ........................................8 Ruminations .............................10 Consider This ...........................37 NC Foundation.......................... 92 MARC .........................................96 USMEF .....................................100 Nebraska Beef Council .......... 104 NC Partners ............................. 108 Boots on the Ground .............109 Sale & Event Calendar............110 Advertiser Index...................... 113 FEATURES PRODUCTION Integrating Reproductive Technologies in Cow-Calf Operations .................................12 A look at practical strategies for integrating reproductive technologies to enhance herd efficiency and profitability. The Other AI ..........................................................................................................................18 What artificial intelligence means for the beef industry. Late Gestational Undernutrition....................................................................................... 24 A look at how nutrient restriction during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on calves. Understanding Cattle Enterprise Budgets.......................................................................42 Using cost-of-production information to make management decisions. Building Trust and Opportunity Through Direct-to-Consumer Beef Marketing..... 52 Meet Nebraska beef producers who are finding a competitive edge by developing niche offerings that align with consumer preferences. PEOPLE Nebraska Cattlemen Visit Portugal................................................................................... 30 NC Past President Brenda Masek shares highlights from the 2025 Nebraska Cattlemen international tour. POLICY Producers Need Certainty...................................................................................................74 U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) shares about his commitment to ensure federal policy delivers as much certainty as possible for producers. PERSPECTIVES Labor Landscape .................................................................................................................36 Navigating the ever-changing labor market in the ag industry. Beef-on-Dairy Goes Mainstream ...................................................................................... 48 A look at how beef-on-dairy has moved from a niche breeding strategy to a structural component of the U.S. beef supply. PAST Foundation of Objective Selection Tools.......................................................................... 62 Meet some of the men who are largely responsible for the development of today’s genetic predictions. SPECIAL TO THIS ISSUE Nebraska Cattlemen Convention Highlights................................................................... 76 Nebraska Cattlemen Convention Sponsors.....................................................................90 Manuscripts and advertisements are welcome. Nebraska Cattlemen reserves the right to edit and refuse advertisements. Readers are welcome to submit letters to the editor. Full name and address of writer must accompany all letters. Letters are accepted with the understanding that they may be condensed to fit the magazine format and edited for accuracy and clarity. Letters contain the opinion of the writer and not that of the Nebraska Cattlemen. You can get Nebraska Cattleman via email. Receive each issue even before the Post O ce ships the printed edition. Just send an email to us at NCmag@necattlemen.org and put “Email NC Magazine” in the subject line. We assure you we will not share your email address with anyone! ON THE COVER: This cow and calf are sporting winter white at Rennert Ranch near Elm Creek. Photo courtesy of Kristian Rennert
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