The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-24
Feedlne Cattie in nIlnois.

i AAAs OOAA W. OnuQuln ACGub dUOul
200 cattle a year on his 1245-acre
farm in Sangamon county, Ill. There
the writer saw rare object-lesson
in extensive and successful farming
on plan that provides most of the
conditions for a permanent agricul-
ture, and that Is worthy of particular
notice at time when so many farms
illustrate abuse and depreciation OF
the land, and so many farmers think
there is no money in well-fed beef
cattle.
Corn occupies 300 acres of this
form; pasture, 400 acres; wheat, 100
acres; oats, so acres, and $50 acres
are let There were 1457 cattle on
this place at one time, and another
year only $50. Hogs are also fed,
about 11a per steer. All the stock is
sold off before midsummer to avoid
fly time. A foreman is in direct
charge. but Mr. Sudduth spends many
mornings on the farm, and gives par
ticular and personal attention to the
cattle. He is not afraid to feed high
priced corn to hogs, and. beginning
with October of last year, he bought
more than 1000 stock hogs, getting
eight carloads of thin shoats at cents
and less from one locality last fall,
and others last spring at 6jh cents.
/ They all sold at good prices this sum
mer, one bunch of 100 topping the
market at S7,35. He was as eager to
get hogs Is most farmers we're to get
rid of TIN and he has Teaped large
reward
A special feature Is the feeding OF
corn and clover ensilage to the fat
tening cattle. Mr.. Sudduth has two
large stave silos, and the ensilage Is
accounted one of the most valuable
/ and practical feeds. II is fed In the
late winter and spring, not more than
20 pounds day per steer with clover
hay. grain and cottonseed heal The
owners fifteen years OF personal and
successful management of cattle has
led him TO feed practically q balanced
ration. consisting of four pounds OF
cottonseed meal and one-fifth OF a
bushel Of shelled corn per day, on
clover pasture. cottonaeed meal IL
fed about four months. a quarter OF a
ton per steer. In feeding cottonseed
meal ten years on grass, II has never
hurt the cattle.
Mr.. Sudduth can recall but one year
when cattle lost him money, and that
was at time of both drowth and
panic. He buys all kinds OF feeders,
and has made as much money from
poor cattle as from choice But he
maintains that one must really like
the business. be close. practical
judge Of cattle and OF markets, and
must give personal and continuous at
tention to the herd. inspecting the
animals daily. A pufnt made empha-
tetic Is that mastery of the detalis
and n reputation for successful hand
ling Of cattle and the proper equip
nient and pastures, are more impor-
tant than large capital. because hay-
Ing these II ia easy 10 get credit on
cattle
The $4,000 TO 10000 bushels OF corn
raised Is fed to livestock on this
farm; in 1907. $4,000 bushels we're
fed. About 400 acres are IN pasture
One man In kept hauling manure all
the year Large quantities Of rich
feeding stun are brought upon the
farm. Under this system the Yield OF
corn has increased from - bushels
per acre IN 1906. 81 bushels In 1907.
and 81 bushels last year. when we had
both food and drouth. In many in
stances fields haze yielded 20. so and
30 bushels per acre, and 40 acres one
year produced l07h bushels per acre.
THIS year an Immense crop Of corn
was grown on n f0-acre field which
had been In grass FIVE yeHra. and In
that time had received % tons per
acre ~ manure In two applications.
Cattle have been feed on all fields,
and manure hauled 20 many There
IL thorough cultivation of the ground
ard destruction OF bad weeds These
methods produce na much corn In four
crops as he could grow IN eight crops
without the live stock and grass. be-
sides the profit ia cattle and hoga
Thia all means that Mr. sudduth Ia
making money while solving the great
problem ol building up the soil OF a
igJge acreage. His uniform success
challenges the inspection Of the hun
dredH Of large landowners who face
the same problem, but have not seri-
oualy tackled a.
Mr. Sudduth does all his work with
big mules, and sells on the surplus
animals at good prices aa aoon ns
corn plowlng is over This Ia good
economy The writer saw iye Of
them sell on the farm for sg55
Hired men are never allowed to
whip or jerk the mules or swear at
them.
Two cattle lots are paved with
brick and another with cinders.
Good sheds are provided. A wide
outlet has been made for the escape
OF cattle IN case of Are. and the fence
is purposely left low In one place 80
that frightened animals could 10 over
IT, The buildings, fences and equip
ment are In firFt-class condition.
2J-acre slough WAS profitably
rented for long term Of years to the
Chicago d Alton Railway. which has
made great reservoir and fah pond
Of IL, and Mr. Sudduth retains the
right 10 an ineXhaustlble supply OF
water for all his cattle. He put IN a
steam pump. elevated tank Of 5000
gallons capacity. and gravity dis
tributing pipes -fourths % a
mile 10 his barn sheds and fields. pt n
cost OF $500. IL is only necessary to
pump twice week MIR. Suddgth
pays his men sl.I5 q day for every
day that he can furnish them work.
and that Is perhaps 20 out OF &c work
ing days IN month They are al
lowed to keep COW and have a gar
den spot and chickens, but are not per-
mitted to keep dogs, geese or other
livestock Twelve men are kept the
year around. and Is were AQen ~
most all OF the spring. The ctAle
feeders. who must work Sundays and
every day, are given 81 a day and
board
ARTHUR J. BILL.