Brief description

Livestock is the managed raising of domesticated animals for food, materials, labor, and trade. It combines controlled grazing, shelter, and breeding to keep herds productive and resilient.

Use / Function

• Food supply: Meat, milk, and eggs when available.
• Materials: Leather, Wool, Bone, and Animal Fat.
• Labor: Draft power for transport and field work.
• Fertility: Manure for soil enrichment and composting.
• Storage: Animals are living food reserves for lean seasons.

Operating principle

• Forage conversion: Animals turn grasses and crop residues into protein and fats.
• Water and shelter: Regular access to water and protection from weather prevent loss.
• Controlled breeding: Selecting healthy animals improves yield and temperament.
• Health management: Clean bedding, rotation, and observation reduce disease.

How to create it

1. Choose species: Match animals to climate, terrain, and local forage.
2. Secure water and feed: Reliable water, grazing areas, and stored fodder.
3. Build containment: Fences, pens, or corrals using Wood and Rope.
4. Set routines: Rotate grazing, clean bedding, and provide shade.
5. Manage breeding: Track seasons, isolate aggressive or sick animals.
6. Process outputs: Milking, shearing, and butchering with clean tools and Containers for storage.
7. Handle manure: Collect and compost to avoid contamination.

Materials needed

• Essential: Water, forage grasses, Straw for bedding, Salt for mineral licks.
• Tools: Rope for tethering, Shovel for cleaning, Containers for milk or feed.
• Substitutes: Living hedges, stone walls, or woven hurdles for enclosure.

Variants and improvements

• Pastoralism: Mobile herds that follow seasonal forage.
• Mixed crop-livestock: Animals feed on residues and fertilize fields.
• Rotational grazing: Rested pastures recover and reduce parasites.
• Dairy focus: Select for milk yield and gentler temperament.
• Fiber focus: Breeds optimized for fleece quality.

Limits and risks

• Disease: Zoonoses and parasites spread quickly in dense herds.
• Overgrazing: Soil compaction and erosion reduce long-term yield.
• Predators and theft: Require strong containment and vigilance.
• Feed gaps: Drought or winter can cause rapid losses without stored fodder.
• Waste hazards: Manure can pollute water if unmanaged.

Related materials

• Water: Essential for drinking and cleaning.
• Straw: Bedding and insulation.
• Wool: Fiber output from sheep or goats.
• Leather: Processed hides for tools and clothing.
• Animal Fat: Energy and preservation.
• Bone: Tools and fertilizer.
• Plant fibers: Cordage and woven hurdles.
• Salt: Mineral supplementation and preservation.
• Curd & Cheese: Concentrated dairy food from milk.

Related inventions

• Rope: Tethering and leading animals.
• Containers: Milk, feed, and storage.
• Cart: Transport of feed, tools, and goods.
• Shovel: Cleaning stalls and handling manure.