The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-24
Feeding Cattle in Illinois.


Mr. John W. Sudduth feeds about
700 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 a plan that provides most of the
conditions for permanent agricul-
ture, and that is worthy of particular
notice at a 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 150 Hogs are also fed,
about 11a per steer. ALI 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 67s cents.
They all sold at good prices this sum-
mer, one bunch of 120 topping the
market at $685. He was as eager to
get hogs as most farmers were to get
rid of them, and he has reaped 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 ensllage is
accounted one of the most valuable
and practical feeds. 1t is fed in the
late winter and spring, not more than
20 pounds day per steer with clover
hay, grain and cOttOnSeed meal. The
owners fifteen years OF personal and
successful management of cattle has
led him to feed practically a balanced
ration, consisting of four pounds OF
cottonseed meal and one-fifth" OF
bushel of shelled corn per day, on
clover pasture. Cottonseed meal is
fed about four months, a quarter OF a
ton per steer. In feeding cottonseed
meal ten years on grass, it has never
hurt the cattle.
Mr.. Sudduth can recall but one year
when cattle lost him money, and that
was at a 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 ne
maintains that one must really like
the business, be close, practlcal
Judge of cattle and of markets, and
must give personal and continuous at
tention to the herd, inspecting the
animals daily. A point made empha-
tetic is that mastery of the details
and reputation for successful hand
ling of cattle and the proper equip
ment and pastures, are more impor-
tant than large capital; because hav-
ing these it is easy to 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 were
fed. About 400 acres are in pasture.
One man is kept hauling manure all
the year. Large quantities of rich
feeding stuff are brought upon the
farm. Under this system the yield OF
corn has increased from 27 bushels
per acre in 1906; 81 bushels in 1907.
and 81 bushels last year, when we had
both flood and drouth. In many in
stances fields have yielded 70, 80 and
80 bushels per acre, and 40 acres one
year produced 1071s bushels per acre.
This year an immense crop of corn
was grown on a 40-acre field which
had been in grass five years, and in
that time had received % tons per
acre of manure in two applications.
Cattle have been feed on all fields,
and manure hauled to many. There
is thorough cultivation of the ground
and destruction of bad weeds. These
methods produce as much corn in four
crops as he could grow in eight crops
without the live stock and grass, be-
sides the profit in cattle and hogs.
This all means that Mr.. Sudduth is
making money while solving the great
problem of building up the soil of a
large acreage. His uniform success
challenges the inspection of the hum
dreds of large landowners who face
the same problem, but have not seri-
ously tackled it.
Mr.. Sudduth does all his work with
big mules, and sells off the surplus
animals at good prices as soon as
corn plowing is over This is good
economy. The writer saw five of
them sell on the farm for 1915
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 fire, and the fence
is purposely left low in one place sc
that frightened animals could go over
it. The buildings, fences and equip
ment are in first-class condition.
A 25-acre slough was proftably
rented for a long term of years to the
Chicago & Alton Railway, which has
made a great reservoir and fish pond
of it, and Mr.. Sudduth retains the
right to an inexhaustible supply OF
water for all his cattle. He put in a
steam pump, elevated tank of 26,000
gallons capacity, and gravity dis
tributing pipes three-fourths of a
mile to his barn, sheds and fields, at a
cost of $500. 1t is only necessary to
pump twice a week. Mr.. Sudduth
pays his men $1.15 a day for every
day that ne can furnish them work,
and that is perhaps % out of 26 work
ing days in a month. They are al
lowed to keep a cow and have 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 18 were given work
most all of the spring. The cattle