78 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN January 2026 PEERS HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE BEEF CHECKOFF ANN MARIE BOSSHAMER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEBRASKA BEEF COUNCIL The theme of this month’s Nebraska Cattleman magazine is seedstock. When I first thought about how the Beef Checkoff ties into that topic, I wasn’t quite sure how to make the connection. But, when you step back and think about what makes great seedstock, the answer is simple: superior genetics, accurate data, reliable information and innovative technology. And none of that happens without years of research and development. Beef industry research actually predates the creation of the federal Beef Checkoff program in 1986. But the checkoff dramatically accelerated and focused that research, zeroing in on the protein we care about most: beef. Today, Beef Checkoff research remains the only U.S.-based, beef-focused initiative dedicated to understanding beef’s attributes, challenges and opportunities. It plays a unique role in building the science that helps us promote beef, protect its place in a healthy diet and showcase it as a wholesome, convenient and delicious protein. From the National Beef Tenderness Survey in the 1990s to the Beef Quality Audit, we’ve seen firsthand how our product continues to improve year after year. Consumers have noticed, too, as shown by their strong and steady demand for beef. But without the data and insights gained through this research, it’s hard to imagine what consumer demand might look like today. Here in Nebraska, we know the story of the flat iron steak, born from the muscle profiling research funded by the Beef Checkoff in the late 1990s. By studying the chuck and round to identify untapped value, researchers discovered new steak cuts that are now staples in the retail meat case and on restaurant menus. In fact, the impact of that work is global; there are even restaurants in Hong Kong named Top Blade Lab and Flat Iron Steak Restaurant that center their menus around this very cut. Another example of research driving meaningful change is the Beef in the Early Years project. Beginning in the early 2000s, checkoff-funded nutrition studies built the scientific foundation proving beef’s vital role in early childhood development. After nearly 15 years of research, that effort paid off – the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans officially recommended iron-rich foods like beef for infants as young as six months. With that validation, the Beef Checkoff shared the message with pediatricians, nutrition professionals and parents nationwide, helping them understand how early beef consumption supports healthy growth. That campaign continues today, with resources still available at BeefInTheEarlyYears. com. It’s a perfect example of how unCONTINUED ON PAGE 80 SCHAWANG Cattle Co. 29TH ANNUAL BEST OF ALL WORLDS SALE MARCH 21, 2026 (STORM DATE MARCH 28) 1:00 PM CST - At our homestead 3271 K Road - David City, NE • Lunch provided www.schawangcattle.net Selling 35 Bulls • 15 Open Heifers Level 5 Johnes Herd Certification Tested negative for BVD 23 years in a row Pelvic measured Satisfaction guaranteed Design by KWC Print Design Gelbvieh, Angus, Balancer, Simmental, & Red Angus Cross Randy & Mindy Schawang & SonS 402.367.2345 (Randy cell) 402.367.8280 (Mindy cell) Call or text for a catalog!
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