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Editing Livestock

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#REDIRECT [[Meat industry]]
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In this article '''livestock''' means any live [[animal]]s you have under your control, usually [[tame]], but, with some limitations, untame can be used too. Their main use is for breeding and [[butcher]]ing, but they can also be made into pets and act as intruder detection.
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== Sources ==
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'''Livestock''' can be acquired by a variety of means:
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*You can buy animals on embark. Except cats and dogs, those are hellishly expensive. This might not be a smart move.
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*You bring 2 animals with you that drag your wagon. Those are seldom if ever a breeding pair.
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*Some [[immigrant]]s will bring [[pet]]s that might complete breeding pairs.
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*Your most reliable source for livestock are [[trade]]rs that will bring caged animals. [[Elves]] aside, they will only bring the common domestic animals, but those suffice. Elves may bring more exotic animals which are additionally interesting for defense purposes.
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*You can catch and tame animals on your map with cage traps. This requires many cage traps, some work and/or some luck.
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*Once you have a male and female of a species they will begin breeding, giving you a potentially unlimited supply - of that species.
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==Caveats and Tips==
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*Animals are frequently accused of ruining your framerate from pathing. Recommended remedies include caging (this stops breeding!), [[chain]]ing, or "stacking" in a small room. Baby [[animal]]s can be kept in [[cage]]s till they are mature and then be released.
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*While you can't butcher pets, their offspring will be at your disposal without restriction.
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*Mules are sterile.
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*Tame female animals that are left to roam can apparently become impregnated by wild males of the same species. The new animals produced will be [[tame]].
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* Some animals are reproducing faster and more consistently than others. Cows, horses, dogs and cats work and are easy to acquire. Other than that you will have to try out.
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== Uses ==
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=== Breeding and Butchering===
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Livestock is a welcome source mostly for bones and leather, but also supplies meat and skulls. Slaughtered newborns provide the same number of items as full-grown animals, so there is no need to wait for them to mature.
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Only one male is necessary to impregnate an indefinite number of females. Keep 1 or 2 spare males around in case one dies of old age, any other males serve no purpose and can be safely slaughtered.
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The males don't need to be anywhere near the females to impregnate them. You could lock them in a vault and they would still impregnate the females anyway. NOTE: While distance and/or walls will not prevent pregnancy, putting either the females or all available males into a cage WILL prevent it. Chained animals will still reproduce.
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The animals at the end of your z-animals list are the newest born (war dogs and vermin aside)
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Females should be slaughtered too after about 8-10 years, so they wont die of old age. While it is hard to keep track of the exact age of a single animal, butchering a few from the top of the list should do the trick.
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Livestock is a safe and constant source of meat and bones (read: [[bolt]]s) for a fortress that has trouble with caravans and hunting.
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=== Wild animals ===
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Wild animals will attempt to escape from your fortress if you release them from their cages. It is advisable to keep them in a confined space and send in your military before handing them over to the butcher.
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===Pets===
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You can make most animals available as pets on the {{k|z}}-animals subscreen. Dwarves who like them will adopt them.

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