Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to milk cows in Stardew Valley! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this article will provide step-by-step instructions to extract milk from your barn animals successfully.
We’ll cover everything from building a barn and purchasing cows to maintaining their happiness and maximizing milk production. Get ready to become a skilled cow milker and boost your farm’s profitability in Stardew Valley!
Understanding Cows in Stardew Valley
Cows are one of the valuable farms in Stardew Valley. They play a crucial role in providing a source of income through their milk production. By raising cows on your farm, you can harvest their milk for profit, make it artisan goods, use it for cooking recipes, or give a gift to villagers.
Steps to Milk Cows in Stardew Valley
Step 1: Build a Barn
Before you can start milking cows, you need a barn on your farm. Construct a barn by visiting the Carpenter’s Shop in Pelican Town. You will need the required materials, such as wood and stone, as specified for the desired size of the barn.
| Barn Type | Capacity | Size | Pricing | Needed Materials | Description |
| (tiles) | |||||
| Barn | 4 | 7×4 | 6,000g | Wood (350) | Includes a Hay Hopper and Feeding Bench |
| Stone (15) | |||||
| Big Barn | 8 | 7×4 | 12,000g | Wood (450) | It offers the same features as the Barn, with added Pregnancy |
| Stone (200) | of Livestock | ||||
| Deluxe Barn | 12 | 7×4 | 25,000g | Wood (550) | Similar to the Big Barn, but it features an Auto-feed System |
| Stone (300) |
Note: The table provides an overview of the different barn options available in Stardew Valey.
Step 2: Obtain a Cow
Visit Marnie’s Ranch, located south of Pelican Town, and purchase a cow. The cost is 1,500g. Choose the barn where you want to house the cow and give it a name. Your new cow will automatically be put on your farm.
Step 3: Wait for the Cow to Mature
When you first receive the cow, it will be a calf. Feed it every day, wait five days for it to mature, and be ready for milking fully. Check the cow’s age by interacting with it to ensure it has matured.
Step 4: Purchase a Milk Pail
To milk the cow, you will need a Pail. Visit Marnie’s Ranch or her shop in the Carpenter’s Shop and purchase the Milk Pail for 1,000g. Make sure to have it in your inventory.
Step 5: Approach the Cow
Once the cow has matured, walk up to it with the Milk Pail in hand. Interact with the cow to start the milking process.
Step 6: Collect the Milk
While standing next to the cow, hold down the action button (usually the right mouse click or controller) to extract the milk. The cow will produce milk, and it will automatically be collected as Milk.
Step 7: Repeat Daily
Cows can be milked once per day. Make sure to visit your cow every day to collect the milk. It’s essential to maintain a routine to maximize milk production.
Happy cows with a high enough friendship level with you will produce Large Milk.
Optional: Auto-Grabber (Farming Level 10)
Once you reach Farming Level 10, you can purchase an Auto-Grabber from Marnie. This device automatically extracts milk from cows, eliminating the need for manual milking. However, using the Auto-Grabber does not gain friendship points from interacting with the cows yourself.
Utilizing Milk and Maximizing Profit
Once you have collected milk from your cows in Stardew Valley, there are various ways to utilize it and maximize your profits. One option is to sell the milk directly, which can fetch a decent price depending on its quality. Milk is also an important ingredient in many kitchen recipes [1].
Another option is to process the milk into cheese using a Cheese Press, which increases its value even further. Cheese can be sold at higher prices and is a popular choice for artisan goods.
By carefully managing your milk production and processing it into cheese, you can significantly boost your farm’s profitability and make the most out of your cows’ milk. There is the option to place the Cheese in Casks, further enhancing its quality and increasing its selling value.
| Item | Base | Silver | Gold | Iridium |
| Normal Milk | 125g | 156g | 187g | 250g |
| Large Milk | 190g | 237g | 285g | 380g |
| Cheese | 230g | 287g | 345g | 460g |
| (Aged 0 Days) | (Aged 3 Days) | (Aged 7 Days) | (Aged 14 Days) |
Conclusion
You’re now equipped with how to milk cows in Stardew Valley. By following these steps, you can successfully milk cows in Stardew Valley.
Remember to maintain a good relationship with your cows by petting them, providing them with food and a comfortable environment, and you’ll have a steady supply of milk for various uses on your farm.
