Crown Prince 920
1/2
National Beefmaster Bull
Championship
2006 Grand Champion
UPDATE: 2007 SR.
Reserve Champion!
Needless to say, the friends that thought we were crazy last year to haul a
SR bull to Tunica, thought we had lost our minds when we told them we were
going to enter Crown Prince again, this time almost eight! We decided the
worst that could happen is he would be beaten by a younger bull, and sure
enough, Thunder Valley had some tremendous young bulls that took Grand
Champion, and Reserve Grand Champion. We can live with that.
We did
however, win our class, and Crown Prince, moving a littler slower down the
aisle this year, was SR. Reserve Champion! Several people told us they
were glad we brought him because he actually looked better in person!
He still was the best tempered bull in the barn.
Crown Prince has
developed numerous friends this year and we appreciate all the support for
our breeding program. Why did we really haul the old rascal again? We plan
to start selectively selling his heifers soon, and we didn't want
people to wonder where those great heifers came from. We wanted people
to be able to say, "Wow, that's sure enough a Crown Prince calf!"
What does Prince think about
all of this? It's back to business as usual. He's live covered 80 cows this
year!
The incredible story of Crown Prince in 2006:
"The secret is finally out why Wild Oaks Farms has been purchasing so many
elite Beefmaster cows this last year!"
We've
been selectively purchasing unique individuals to compliment what we thought
was one of the best Beefmaster Bulls in the breed, our Sr. Herd Sire
Crown Prince 920.
February 25th, 2006, in Tunica, MS, at the SEBBA Dixie National Bull
Futurity, three of the top cattle judges in the industry confirmed our
suspicions, and Crown Prince 920 was named the Grand Champion Beefmaster
Bull at the National Bull Futurity, at almost seven years of age!
In a futurity dominated by the athleticism of young bulls, Crown Prince
joined the ranks of Black Jack 21, Soul Man & Navasota, but as a mature
bull, right out of the breeding pasture!
the rest of the story . .
.
Semen
is available by private treaty either through this web site, by phone, or
through your consultant.
$100/straw, no
minimums. JBBA members $50.00/straw.
 Finally,
200+new photos
coming. . .
Beefmasters Galore, we
have what you want!
Check out the additions to the Black page!
(you know the drill, click
on the cow)
First Light
the age old story
The sudden echoing
yipes of the nearby coyote pack breaks the still of
the frosty night.
Under winter's blackened star filled sky, she
starts the restless dance of birth.
Silently, she
watches and waits, rising and falling in the rhythm of creation.
As the first light falls across the field, she
beholds with a mother's pride, her still damp calf.
I treasure the gift from God, that I was there to
share in endless awe, his continuing miracle of birth.
And so, the calving season continues at Wild Oaks
Farms.
Please accept this heartfelt invitation to come
visit the farm and catch the excitement.
Our gentle Beefmasters are cattle the whole family can
enjoy.
Donor Showcase
Take
a peek at the new calf photos on the Donor page that define why their mama
is a Wild Oaks
Beefmaster Donor!
 Click
on this heifer and let her take you to her incredible dam.
Happy Valentines!
Call Me Darlin is a
Mom!
Infinity x Call Me Darlin, 3 days.
Crown Prince x Call Me Darlin,
Darlin' Valentine, 1 day
Infinity x Call
Me Darlin, 4 mos
Wild Oaks Presents
their newest donor . . . .
Cottage Farms
Vanity Fair
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I just can't express what an
impact this we think
Vanity Fair
is going to make to the Wild Oaks Farms
program and the Beefmaster breed, but here's her natural Soul Man calf, at
four months to give you an idea. We think
Vanity Fair
is the epitome of what a Beefmaster cow should
be, and I think you'll agree she is one of the most beautiful donors in the
Beefmaster breed.
Cottage Farms sold three
Vanity Fair
heifers for a total of $26,000 at their
Production Sale in July. Paul Hill purchased a black bred heifer, Ted
Cain an open red heifer, and Davin Vaughn & Paul Castleman a black
open heifer. We wish them all tremendous luck with females that we think
will be trend setters for the Beef master
Breed!
Toby and I especially want to
thank Cottage Farms for using such a tremendous cow for their lead sale
offering. We realize what a sacrifice it is to lose a female of this quality
from the herd.
Vanity Fair
was flushed to Jackpot about a week before the
sale. We asked Rick and Scott if we could purchase those embryos, and with a
smile Rick said, "We've got them all in". Can't blame them for that! We'll
have to make our own this fall.
MY SOUL VANITY
at 4 months
News Worthy . . . .
This
article that appeared in the June 18th issue of Ozarks Farm &
Neighbor - Arkansas.
We really enjoyed the interview, and of course, we enjoyed talking
"Beefmaster Cattle"!
Building Success on Success
By Amber
Parham
OFN Contributor
Toby and Cherryl Forte strive for genetic excellence
with their purebred Beefmaster operation.
Toby and Cheryl Forte raise top quality Beefmaster
cattle on their 600 acre spread, Wild Oaks Farm, near Mulberry, Ark.
Four years ago they decided to convert their commercial herd to a
seedstock Beefmaster program. They chose the breed primarily for the
productivity and easy handling of the females.
Marketing Strategies
Cherryl, who serves on the Board of Directors for
Central State Beefmasters, Arkansas Beefmasters and on the BBU Breed
Development Committee, said her background in marketing gives her a
strategic edge in the highly competitive beef industry. One of the
biggest challenges she faces is effectively marketing her
seedstock and commercial animals since they have different channels
of distribution. Their website,
www.wildoaksfarms.com,
has brought sales from across the nation.
Cattlemen in the Southeast like black cattle, and the Fortes are
developing a black Beefmaster herd without sacrificing quality or
breed traits. "This process has been slow because we do not want to
sacrifice any quality for color," Cherryl said.
Herd Health
“Our farm
is Johne’s free”, Cherryl said. They recently participated in
the state-funded Johne’s testing program. She also said that the key
to good, healthy cattle are mineral supplements. They practice
regular de-worming, vaccinations and use a combination of minerals,
permethrin and ear tags to control flies. "We are also very
fortunate to have two outstanding local veterinarians who work with
us," Cherryl said.
Feeding Practice
One of
the most effective feeding practices the Fortes use is keeping cows
with similar needs together. “A first calf heifer won’t get in
there and fight at the feed trough with the other cows,” Cherryl
explained. Wild Oaks Farm also groups the cows according to
lactation cycle, and feed range cubes and creep when needed. While
building their seedstock operation, they have started contracting
the hay and grazing their hay land.
New Technology
Toby said they have been using embryo transfers (ET)
seriously for the last two years, using their Beefmaster females for
recips. He said that although the price of an ET calf adds
$500 to the cost of a conventional calf, the profit potential far
outweighs the cost. “By using AI and ET we are able to breed for
selected traits and jump ahead two to four generations yearly,” he
said.
Their embryologist is Dale Whitaker, of Geiger AL, whom Cheryl said
is “the best in the business”. Their success rate supports their
claim with an 83 percent pregnancy rate on their best flush and an
overall average of 65 percent to 68 percent.
Herd Improvement
This
month Wild Oaks Farm will start carcass ultrasound testing in their
breeding stock. The data will be a breeding development tool
since it provides an actual IMF (intramuscular fat) and rib eye
score, unlike EPDs based on predictability. Toby and Cherryl
travel across the nation to buy the best donor females they can
find. “We are developing one of the strongest Beefmaster herds
in the nation. Our main focus is to increase farm profitability by
developing those traits in our commercial and purebred cattle,"
Cherryl said. They also have access to one of the best bulls in the
US. Their herd bull, Crown Prince 920, was the
2006 National Beefmaster Bull Grand Champion.
Toby and Cherryl make every
effort to learn from other producers. When they tour
operations around the country, they always ask “what are the best
and worst things that have been done?”
"Success builds on success," Cherryl said.
Please note that these are not the cow photos originally published
in the article.
Wild Oaks Farm's commitment to quality Black Beefmaster Cattle
At Wild Oaks, we've
built our program on cattle with structural correctness, fertility,
productivity and beautiful bags! Once we were comfortable with Prince's
impact on the herd, we turned our focus on finding the best Black Beefmaster
Genetics available. We have used Soul Man and Jackpot extensively in our
herd and we're having incredible calves. A large number of the CJ Soul
Man x CJ Second to None 208 calves are show on this web site. Watch for the
future impact of these calves on the breed.
Soul Man, a bull of destiny
Clark Jones' 2003 World Cup Winner, Soul Man, is a bull of destiny. Soul
Man's extensive use to the top cows in the breed over the last three years,
is living proof that Fate has a sense of humor. Few Beefmaster bulls have
had the opportunity to make their mark of the breed in such a
definitive way. For those breeders attempting to meet the cattle
industry's demand for clean, complete, black Beefmaster cattle, his
offspring have set the bar. We believe his daughters are an investment in
the future. Look for his calves on our future pages, we're building our herd
on the productivity of his offspring.
We currently have over 50 Soul Man calves on the ground, giving us around 65
head of Soul Man cattle. We have selectively bought his best daughters over
the last two years. We believe his progeny, crossed with Crown Prince 920
and Jackpot, will answer the contemporary cattleman's needs.
For more great cattle
from clark jones , check out
jonesbeefmasters.com
Wild Oaks Farms is proud to be a
Jackpot
Syndicate
member!
After looking at a number of outstanding black Beefmaster bulls, we
decided to participate in the Jackpot Syndicate.
This Black Jack 21 son shows great bone and thickness, with the
predictability of the great Miss Staci Cow and 6/2 line.
Look for
outstanding Jackpot calves from Wild Oaks donors, "Spice Girl 603", "The
Black Heifer", "Second to None", "Fat Bottom Girl" "My OH My" and "Shady
Lady".
If you're looking for Black Beefmaster Bulls to use and promote,
here's a Sneak Preview presenting our
Jr. Black Beefmaster Herd sires!
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Okay, you noticed, we've got really great red bulls,
but that's another story.
Click the Eagle to find out about our
youngest bull, wo Two Eagles,
and the crazy story that heralded his
birth!
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(This photo makes a great desktop photo)
208 Second to None
seems know exactly where she's taking us!
To see more photos of
her calves, check out her link on the Donor page
208
Second to None
If you're interested in Black Beefmasters, Dr. Tim Olson, Dept. of Animal
Sciences, University of Florida, has generously shared his paper,
"Black Beefmasters,
How to Most Efficiently Produce Them"
It's a must read under Did You Know.
Soul Man x 208
Second to None
(Twin Heifers, age 8 months)
Group of
Second to None
calves
Her bulls
are going to be some of the cleanest Black Beefmaster Bulls in the Breed,
there's two of them on the right at weaning. We love them, but we just can't
figure out which one we like best . . . . actually, that seems to be
everyone's problem!
119/7 208 , 9 months
of age, below, just off his recip mama. He'll be in the weaning field for a
week then move into the "boys" field.
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