7 Oaks Angus: Iowa-based seedstock operation produces strong bulls, fertile females
For Jason and Jessica “Jess” Schroeder, owners of 7 Oaks Angus in Durant, Iowa, strong sires and functional females pave the road to profit for customers across the nation.
The Schroeders have been making a name for themselves as seedstock producers since 2015, honing their genetic program over the years to offer some of the highest-quality Black Angus cattle in the country.
This year, 7 Oaks Angus bulls topped the charts across several categories at the 2026 Midland Bull Test (MBT) in Columbus, Mont. – the largest feed efficiency testing program in North America, which evaluates approximately 1,100 purebred bulls from over 200 consignors representing more than 32 states every year.
Building a business
Roots in the cattle industry run deep for both the Schroeders, who have been around Black Angus cattle all of their lives.
Jason grew up showing Angus cattle, and Jess spent her childhood helping run her family’s commercial operation.
The couple purchased their farm from Jason’s grandfather in 2013 and began building up their cow herd with the original intent of raising show cattle.
Two years after purchasing the farm, however, the Schroeders decided to pivot away from show cattle and take a leap of faith by diving into the seedstock industry full time.
In the beginning, Jason says striking a balance between desired phenotypes and proven performance was a trial-and-error process which took a bit of time to figure out.
“When we went into the seedstock world, we focused heavily on genetics,” Jason says. “We wanted to make the cattle look how we wanted them to through genetics – we always knew where we wanted to go, but we found out we couldn’t do it all at once.”
Today, 7 Oaks Angus continues to hone their genetics to produce exceptional purebred and commercial cattle known for functionality and fertility in bulls and heifers alike.
Functionality and fertility
On the female side, Jason highlights the longevity and mothering ability of Angus cattle as two exceptional traits which set the breed apart.
Females are held to high standards at 7 Oaks Angus. Jason notes good feet, good udders and docility are top priorities.
Fertility is also of utmost importance, and Jason explains mother cows must breed back within a 62-day window to remain in the herd.
“Fertility is huge for our cattle,” Jason says. “We don’t want something hanging around just because she’s special genetically. If a cow doesn’t do her job, she can’t stay.”
“The mama cow is what runs the breed and what got us to where we are,” he adds.
Strong sires
In addition to raising fertile and functional females, 7 Oaks Angus has produced several top-performing sires renowned for their carcass quality and efficiency.
Jason notes 7 Oaks Angus first got involved with MBT in 2023 through a partnership with Eagle Grip Cattle Company of Denair, Calif.
“Our family decided to venture into MBT because there are a lot of great commercial cattlemen everywhere in the country and it’s a great place for us to send our bulls,” Jason says.
This year, 7 Oaks Angus sent 15 bulls to MBT and several saw success across various categories.
Specifically, bulls consigned by 7 Oaks Angus came out on top as the Angus Champion Pen of Three, with lots 63, 64 and 65 recording an MBT Index of 115 for their exceptional performance across average daily gain, nursing ratio, yearling ratio and efficiency ratio.
Additionally, 7 Oaks Angus consigned the 2026 MBT Champion Weight per Day of Age (WDA) Bull – lot 63, sired by Virginia Tech Statesman – which recorded the winning WDA value of 4.22.
Future plans
As 7 Oaks Angus continues to grow, Jason says creating an opportunity for the couple’s four children – Peyton, Lane, Shealynn and Tuff – to carry on the business if they choose is a priority.
He emphasizes both he and Jess are working to ensure continuing 7 Oaks Angus for another generation is an option rather than an expectation, encouraging their children to pursue other passions in addition to helping out on the ranch.
Still, he adds each of the kids spend a lot of time doing things to help 7 Oaks Angus be successful from sorting cattle and loading trucks to helping out at MBT.
Jason says he looks forward to continuing to develop quality genetics and build relationships with other seedstock producers while serving a vast range of customers throughout the cattle industry.
Bulls consigned by 7 Oaks Angus are scheduled to sell at the 2026 MBT Final Sort Sale on April 3, and the Schroeders offer private treaty sales throughout the year.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
