GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Nebraska’s beef industry has teamed with a U.S. trade association to get help marketing its Japan-bound exports.

Japan had been the United States’ top destination for beef before concerns of mad cow disease led to a ban in 2003. The restrictions were later eased, but beef exports to the foreign nation have lagged.

Philip Seng of the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the challenge is to increase exports while using a smaller fraction of the cattle herd.

The trade association has introduced 17 new cuts of meat to appeal to Japanese consumers who’re wary of older cattle that may carry mad cow disease.

The results appear promising. The trade association says U.S. beef exports to Japan were up 58 percent in the first five months of 2008 and increased in value by 53 percent.