Free range cattle

[Construct58]

I am curious if anyone has tested how far apart you need to build troughs to keep the cattle from dying. I built a large cattle pen 20 panels by 20 panels behind two of my barns. Each barn had 6 feed and water troughs. Several of my beef cattle wandered around without finding the feed, until they died. I want to fence the entire ranch for cattle. So far I have clear cut all the build able space and am ready to build. Thoughts please

[melmmhs94]

All animals outside of a pen or stall will naturally wander. Even if there’s food on the ranch, they will still wander-off ranch and die from hunger, thirst or predation. Some will probably stay nearby but most of them them will wander off. If you don’t have the outer fences built, I’d suggest first containing the cattle in a pen or a custom building because wolves and bears have come onto player’s ranches before, and fences will protect your cattle while you’re getting the final outer fences in place. Once the outer barrier is up, then all of the animals inside that fence will be safe.

[Djsstorm]

Originally posted by melmmhs94:

All animals outside of a pen or stall will naturally wander. Even if there’s food on the ranch, they will still wander-off ranch and die from hunger, thirst or predation. Some will probably stay nearby but most of them them will wander off. If you don’t have the outer fences built, I’d suggest first containing the cattle in a pen or a custom building because wolves and bears have come onto player’s ranches before, and fences will protect your cattle while you’re getting the final outer fences in place. Once the outer barrier is up, then all of the animals inside that fence will be safe.

He is saying he built them a fenced in area, 20x20, not free range, and some of the cows still died when food and water was in the pen. There must be some kind of spacing max in the code before cows can't find the food and water troughs.

[Construct58]

If anyone has information that will assist me in creating a free range look without my herd dying off, please share. I am sawing boards now and plan to fence all of the flat ground from the gate to the backside of the ranch as one large pasture. I only want to build the minimum number of silos / windmills / troughs needed to keep the cattle alive. This is only for appearance. I have more resources than I need to build almost anything. Does anyone know if there is a limit on the number of animals you can have in a pen?

[StormySynapse]

I clear cut all the way to the foot of the mountains andfenced it all off. Tossed in 2 barns on either side of the field. I have 4 granaries and 4 windmill water thingies, with very very slight overlap for a few of them. There isn't too much space between them. Critters wonder around in a counterclockwise pattern and haven't had any issues.

This has allowed me to keep cowz, piggies, and retired roosters out there just wandering around until they pass my magic pen. Once they get to that chute/pen...i decide if they're ready for slaughter or not. Mostly, i just watch them these days. Might slaughter one a day or so.