Raising cows in Farming Simulator 25 can be quite profitable. But in return, they produce milk that can be sold or processed. In addition, they produce manure and slurry, which is used as fertilizer.

Successful cow breeding depends on a large number of factors: selection of a pen, purchase of animals, feeding, collection and further realization of milk and products from it, and so on. For beginners, in this small guide we will briefly describe the most important things to consider when breeding cows.

Laying out the pen and choosing the type of housing

Before you can start breeding cows, you need to place the pen correctly. There are several types of pens available in FS25.

The first option is the breeding pen. This is an enclosed building designed solely for increasing the number of cows. Such pens do not produce milk, but are used only for growing calves and their further sale.

The second option is a barn. Unlike a breeding pen, a barn is designed both for keeping animals and for milk production. Barns come in different sizes. The choice depends on how large your farm will be.

The third option is a pasture. This pen gives the animals access to natural feed. But there is a pretty significant disadvantage - regular water replenishment is required. The pasture can be customizable: during installation, you will be offered to create a lawn (the grass on the plot will be replaced by dense vegetation). If you refuse, the surface will remain concrete or earthen.

After choosing the pen, you need to correctly select the place for its installation. It is best to place the barn near water sources and near warehouses with fodder to reduce the time for their replenishment. It is also worth providing a place for manure storage, if fertilizer production is planned.

Buying and transporting cows

You can buy cows in two ways.

The first is a purchase with delivery directly to the pen. In this case, the cows appear in the pen immediately, but there is an additional charge for delivery.

The second option is to transport the animals yourself. This saves money, but requires a trailer to transport the animals. There are several types of trailers available at the hardware store: small trailers for up to 6 cows and large trailers for up to 12 cows.

After arriving at the livestock market, you must park the trailer in the designated area, and then the animal selection menu will appear. Here you can select the breed of cows and their age.

There are several breeds of cows in the game, each of which has its own characteristics.

• Holstein and Brown Swiss cows - designed for milk production.
• Angus and Limousin - used for breeding and subsequent sale.

You can also choose the age of the cow. A calf (0 months old) is cheaper, but takes longer to develop. A young cow reaches productive age faster, and adults are immediately ready to produce milk.

Once the cows have been selected, they are loaded onto the trailer and now need to be transported to the farm. To unload the animals, simply drive up to the paddock and select “Move to paddock”.

Cow care

The cows need to be provided with enough feed and water, as well as comfortable living conditions.

Water

If cows are kept on pasture, they need regular water replenishment. This can be done by using cisterns that are filled with water from nearby water bodies or special water points.

If the cows are kept in a barn, water is automatically supplied and its cost is included in the farm's daily expenses. This eliminates the need to manually fill the drinkers.

Feeding

The diet of the cows directly affects their productivity. There are several types of fodder available in the game

• Meadow grass (40%) is the most inefficient option. Cows will consume it, but productivity will be minimal.

• Just grass (40%) - similar to meadow grass.

• Silage and hay (80%) is a good option that increases cow productivity.

• Complete forage (100%) - provides maximum health, weight gain and productivity.

If the primary goal is to breed cows, silage or hay is sufficient, as they provide high health gains. If the priority is milk production, then it is better to feed cows with a complete feed.

For feed, you should use special feed mixers that allow you to load feed into the feed troughs.

Don't forget to make sure that there is always enough food in the feeder, as a lack of feed will lead to a decrease in productivity.

Milk production

Milk is only produced in specialized barns and is collected using milk tanks.

To collect milk, you must drive up to a special collection point on the barn, after which it will be possible to load the milk into a tank.

The milk can then either be sold or sent for processing.

Options for selling the milk:

• Sale to a dairy plant.

• Processing into cheese, butter or other products.

• Processing gives a higher income, but requires additional costs to build processing plants.

• Fertilizer production: manure and slurry

• Cows produce two types of fertilizer: slurry and manure.

• Slurry appears automatically and can be used as fertilizer or sold.

Manure is only produced when there is straw bedding. In order to collect manure, you must build a manure storehouse where it will automatically flow.

Both types of fertilizer can be used to increase crop yields or sold to a biogas plant.

Selling cows

Cows can be sold for additional income. As they mature, their value increases and selling adults becomes a lucrative endeavor.

Selling is possible in two ways:

• Through a barn - quick, but with a commission.

• Through the livestock market - requires transportation but avoids additional fees.

If the purpose of breeding was dairy production, then when the cows reach the maximum age, they can be replaced by younger ones, gradually renewing the herd.

Success in this endeavor depends on the right choice of barn, animal diet and competent management of by-products.

Basic steps:

• Place the pen in a convenient location.

• Buy cows considering their breed and age.

• Provide water and feed for the animals.

• Use complete feed to maximize productivity.

• Keep track of by-products (manure and slurry) and use them profitably.

• Manage milk wisely: sell or process.

• Sell adult cows for additional income.

Cow farming can easily become one of the most profitable areas in the game. The main thing is to plan everything correctly!