I'm totally with Shawn here. There are a couple of things that you can do to help decrease end checks, e.g. seal the end grain, cut out the pith and put stickers close to the end of the boards. If you want to spend huge $$$, you can vacuum kiln or PEG impregnate. Beyond that, you have to let the wood do its thing. If it's going to check, then so be it. Let the wood assume it's mostly natural and relaxed form. Better to relieve the stress early on than to have it crack later. Don't fight Mother Nature, you will invariably lose.
