Master the art of animal care in Stardew Valley to boost your farm’s productivity and profits.
Stardew Valley is not just about crops; animals are crucial to your farm’s ecosystem. From cuddly pets to productive farm animals, each creature contributes to the farm in its unique way, offering resources, companionship, and even transportation.
This guide focuses on maximizing the benefits of farm animals, including pets, horses, and the various livestock that produce valuable goods. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer or new to the valley, understanding how to care for these animals is key to your success.
Feeling overwhelmed by the variety of animals and their needs? Wondering how to make the most of your livestock? Let’s explore the essentials of animal husbandry in Stardew Valley.
Table of Contents
The importance of animals in Stardew Valley
Animals serve multiple purposes in Stardew Valley, making them an integral part of your farming journey. Here are some key reasons why animals are essential:
- Resource Production: Animals produce various valuable resources, such as milk, wool, and eggs, which can be used for crafting, cooking, or selling for profit.
Profit Generation: You can earn a steady income in the game by selling animal products. Well-cared-for animals will produce higher-quality items, resulting in increased profits.
- Community Center Bundles: Some Community Center bundles in Stardew Valley require you to provide specific animal products. Completing these bundles rewards you with unique rewards and unlocks new areas in the game.
Basic mechanics of keeping animals
Before you can start collecting eggs or milking cows, there are a few steps you need to take to welcome animals onto your farm.
Building the right home for animals
Each type of farm animal requires a specific type of building:
- Coops are needed for chickens, ducks, rabbits, and dinosaurs.
- Barns house cows, goats, sheep, pigs, and ostriches.
Visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop to purchase these buildings. Remember, it takes three days for each building to be constructed.
List of all animals
In Stardew Valley, various animals can be raised on your farm, each providing unique products and benefits. Here’s a comprehensive list of the animals available and a brief overview of what they offer.
Barn Animals
Stardew Valley offers a variety of barn animals that players can raise on their farm. These animals provide valuable resources and play an essential role in the game’s economy. The four main livestock animals available are cows, sheep, pigs, goats, and ostriches.
| Animal | Product | Requirement |
| Cow | Milk (regular, large) | Regular Barn |
| Goat | Goat Milk (regular, large) | Big Barn |
| Sheep | Wool | Deluxe Barn |
| Pig | Truffles | Deluxe Barn |
| Ostrich | Ostrich Eggs | Deluxe Barn, Ostrich Incubator |
Coop Animals
In Stardew Valley, players have the opportunity to raise a variety of animals on their farms. Poultry animals, including chickens, ducks, and rabbits, offer unique benefits and add diversity to your farm.
| Animal | Product | Requirement |
| Chicken | Eggs (regular, large), Brown Eggs (regular, large) | Regular Coop |
| Duck | Duck Eggs, Duck Feathers | Big Coop |
| Rabbit | Wool, Rabbit’s Foot | Deluxe Coop |
| Dinosaur | Dinosaur Eggs | Big Coop |
Other Animals
Stardew Valley allows players to have other furry companions on their farms, including horses, cats, and dogs.
Horse
Horses are a means of transportation in Stardew Valley and loyal companions. You automatically get one once you have built a stable on your farm. Horses can be ridden around the town and the countryside, making travel more efficient. They also provide a sense of camaraderie as they accompany you on your daily adventures.
Choice of animal companion: Cat or Dog
Players can choose between a cat and a dog during the character creation screen. There are currently three breed choices for both options. Players can interact with their pets every day.
Animal Care and Management
Proper care is crucial for your animals’ happiness and productivity. Here are the essentials of daily animal care:
- Feeding: Animals need to eat every day. They can eat fresh grass when outside or hay when inside. Make sure your silos are stocked with hay, especially during winter when grass isn’t available.
- Petting: Daily interaction increases your animals’ happiness and productivity. Make it a routine to pet each animal every day.
- Letting them outside: Allowing animals to graze on fresh grass significantly boosts their happiness. Remember to close the barn or coop doors at night to keep them safe.
Taking care of your animals in Stardew Valley is essential to ensuring their well-being and productivity. Proper housing, feeding, breeding, and reproduction are key to animal care and management.
Best animals for maximum profit
Taking care of animals in Stardew Valley brings joy and companionship and yields valuable animal products. These products can be used for cooking, crafting, and selling, allowing players to generate profits and expand their in-game ventures. Let’s explore some of the best animals for maximum profit!
5. Chicken
- Why chickens are profitable: Chickens produce Eggs daily, which can be turned into Mayonnaise, a staple product with consistent demand. While not as high-ticket as some animal products, chickens’ low maintenance and initial cost make them a solid choice for a steady income.
- Maximizing profit: Focus on upgrading your coop to house more chickens and invest in a Mayonnaise Machine to convert all eggs into more valuable mayonnaise. Consider diversifying with different types of chickens for varied egg products.
4. Ostrich
- Why ostriches are profitable: Ostrich Eggs are a unique product that can be processed into Ostrich Egg Mayonnaise using a Mayonnaise Machine. This mayonnaise sells for a significantly higher price than regular mayonnaise.
- Maximizing profit: Due to their rare and valuable eggs, keeping ostriches happy and ensuring their eggs are processed into mayonnaise will maximize profits.
3. Cow
- Why cows are profitable: Cows produce Milk daily, which can be turned into Cheese in a Cheese Press. Cheese, especially of higher quality, sells for a good price. With proper care, cows can produce Large Milk, yielding even more profitable Cheese.
- Maximizing profit: Ensure cows are happy and well-fed to increase the chances of producing Large Milk. Artisan goods like Cheese generally sell for more than raw products.
2. Sheep
- Why sheep are profitable: Sheep produce Wool every few days, which can be turned into Cloth on a Loom. Cloth sells for a significant amount, and its production rate can be increased by ensuring the sheep are happy and have the Shepherd profession.
- Maximizing profit: Regular shearing and high happiness levels ensure a steady supply of Wool. Investing in the Shepherd profession further enhances Wool quality and frequency.
1. Pig
- Why pigs are profitable: Pigs sniff out Truffles, which sell for a high price, significantly when transformed into Truffle Oil by an Oil Maker. Unlike other animal products, Truffles are found rather than harvested, allowing for multiple finds in a day, weather permitting.
- Maximizing profit: Allow pigs to roam outside as much as possible. Since they don’t find Truffles in winter, focus on other income sources during this season.
Tips for maximizing productivity
- Happiness Matters: The happier your animals, the better the quality of products they’ll produce. Regular petting, feeding, and letting animals outside contribute to their happiness.
- Quality Counts: Higher-quality products sell for more and are more valuable in recipes and quests. Focus on animal happiness and use the Shepherd or Coopmaster Profession to increase product quality.
- Breeding: Some animals, like chickens and cows, can reproduce, providing a cost-effective way to expand your farm’s animal population.
Keeping animals in Stardew Valley is a deeply rewarding aspect of the game, offering a unique blend of challenges and rewards. By providing proper care, your farm will flourish with high-quality products, making your agricultural adventure profitable and fulfilling. Remember, a well-loved animal is a happy, productive animal!