Overview
Cows are a livestock species in Starsand Island unlocked at the Intermediate Rancher tier. They are purchased from Pastelle at Green Pasture Ranch for 650 Coins each. Cows are housed in Cattle Barns and produce a variety of byproducts including Milk, Fur, Moo Ball, Sleep Sand, and Poop. Through breeding, cows can produce three additional variants: Fluffhorn, Hornox, and the super rare Pyrox. There is an important limitation to keep in mind: only Common cows produce milk. Rare variants do not produce milk regardless of care level.
Quick Reference
Detail | Value |
|---|---|
Purchase Price | 650 Coins |
Housing | Cattle Barn (blueprint from Green Pasture Ranch) |
Rancher Tier | |
Products | Milk (Common only), Fur, Moo Ball, Sleep Sand, Poop |
Feed | |
Special Ability | None (Pyrox can walk on water) |
Max per Enclosure | 4 |
Rideable | Only Pyrox variant (1 person) |
Variants
There are four cow variants in Starsand Island. The Common Cow is purchased from Pastelle and is the only variant that produces milk. The other three are obtained exclusively through breeding.
Variant | Rarity | How to Obtain | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Common Cow | Common | Purchase (650 Coins) from Pastelle | A common cow with black-and-white markings. The ONLY variant that produces milk when fully grown. |
Rare | Breeding (Common + Common) | A rare subspecies of cattle with long, flowing hair. Does not produce milk. | |
Rare | Breeding (Common + Common) | A rare subspecies of cattle with majestic large horns. Does not produce milk. | |
Super Rare | A super rare subspecies that can walk on water. Rideable when fully grown. Glows with a blue aura. Does not produce milk. |
Fluffhorn and Hornox can both appear as mutations when breeding two Common Cows. The Pyrox is the super rare variant. According to community guides, breeding a Fluffhorn with a Hornox gives the best chance of producing a Pyrox, though it remains a very rare result.
Products
Cows produce a wider variety of byproducts than most animals. All products are collected from the Cattle Barn.
Product | Source | Usage |
|---|---|---|
Common Cow only (female, fully grown, fed and happy) | Processing and cooking ingredient. Used in cooking recipes (Strawberry Mousse, Tiramisu, Mango Sago, Cheesecake, etc.) and as NPC gifts. | |
Fur | All variants | Processing material. Used in crafting recipes at the Worktable. |
Moo Ball | All variants | Processing material. Described as undigested grass regurgitated by cattle. |
Sleep Sand | All variants | Bounty item. A small pile of fine sand collected from resting cows. |
Poop | All variants | Fertilizer material. Processed in the Fertilizer Box for crop growth. |
Milk Production
Important: Only the Common black-and-white cow produces milk. Female Common cows that are fed and happy produce milk daily. Rare variants (Fluffhorn, Hornox, Pyrox) do not produce milk regardless of gender, happiness, or care level. This is a confirmed game design decision, not a bug.
This means you should always keep at least one or two Common cows in your herd if you need a steady milk supply. Do not replace all your Commons with rare variants or you will lose your milk production entirely.
Milk Collection Methods
Method | Requirement | Details |
|---|---|---|
Milk Bottle (Manual) | Intermediate Rancher | Crafted at the Worktable. Walk up to a Common cow and interact while holding the Milk Bottle to collect milk. The Milk Bottle is reusable; craft one and use it daily. |
Auto Milker (Automatic) | Expert Rancher | An automated device placed in the Cattle Barn that collects milk from all eligible Common cows without manual interaction. Requires Expert Rancher certification to unlock. |
Pyrox
The Pyrox is the super rare cow variant and one of the most visually striking animals in the game. It has several unique properties that set it apart from all other cow variants:
Product | Details |
|---|---|
Rideable | The Pyrox can be ridden as a mount (1 person) when fully grown, after equipping a Friendship Collar. |
Walks on Water | The Pyrox can traverse rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, allowing exploration of areas that normally require a boat from Starsand Port. |
Blue Glow | The Pyrox has a luminous blue aura, making it one of the most recognizable animals on the island. |
No Milk | Despite being a cow, the Pyrox does not produce milk. Its value is entirely in its mount ability and visual appeal. |
Care and Feeding
Cows follow the standard animal care routine. Proper care is especially important for Common cows, since milk production depends on happiness.
Task | Details |
|---|---|
Feeding | Cow Feed, purchased from Pastelle at Green Pasture Ranch or crafted at the Feeder. Feed daily for milk production. |
Brushing | Use a Brush or Cleaning Pod every few days. The "Messy" status reduces happiness and can halt milk production. |
Petting | Pet cows daily to boost happiness. Cows with the Pride DNA trait cannot be petted. |
Happiness | Higher happiness improves product quality. At 150+ happiness, cows produce higher-star items that sell for more. |
Breeding
Cow breeding requires one male and one female cow in the same Cattle Barn with at least one open space. Breeding occurs overnight, once per day. Use the Breeding House (3,500 Coins, Intermediate Rancher) to isolate specific pairs.
Known breeding paths for cow variants:
Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
Breed two Common Cows together. Random mutation chance. | |
Breed two Common Cows together. Random mutation chance. | |
Breed a Fluffhorn with a Hornox for the highest chance. Very rare result. |
DNA Traits
Cows inherit DNA traits from their parents. For milk-producing Common cows, prioritize Optimism (happiness boost) and Workaholic (increased work cycles). For breeding toward Pyrox, prioritize Twins and Strong.
Trait | Effect |
|---|---|
Workaholic | Increased daily work cycles |
Twins | 30% chance for multiple offspring |
Precocial | Growth period reduced by 1 day |
Strong | Breeding cooldown reduced by 1 day |
Optimism | 50% happiness boost chance, reduces brushing needs |
Tips
Keep Common cows for milk production. Do not replace all your Commons with rare variants. Only Common cows produce milk.
Breed Common + Common pairs to produce Fluffhorn and Hornox mutations, then breed those together for a shot at Pyrox.
The Pyrox can walk on water, making it a useful exploration mount for reaching offshore areas without a boat.
Milk Bottles are reusable. Craft one at your Worktable and use it daily on each eligible cow.
Save milk for cooking recipes rather than selling raw. Dishes like Strawberry Mousse and Tiramisu sell for much more than raw milk.
Cow Feed requires Eggs (from Chickens or Ducks) as a crafting ingredient, so keep poultry alongside your cows.