Farming Simulator: 🌾 Which animals are the most profitable? 🐔🐄🐑
If you want to be successful in Farming Simulator, it's important to pay close attention to animal selection. In this comprehensive guide, we explore the profitability of different animals based on their yield per hectare. Join us on a journey through the world of chickens, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, dairy cows, water buffalo and cattle. 🚜
Individual analysis of the animals
Chickens 🐔
Chickens are a popular starter for many beginners. They only need 5 liters of feed per month, regardless of their age. They achieve the highest possible egg production in the sixth month, with a feed-to-egg ratio of 1:1. The sale of chicks is not profitable and cockerels are also not an added value as they do not produce eggs. Using barley as feed, the profit per hectare at maximum egg price is over 47,000 euros.
Sheep 🐑
Sheep require grass or hay as feed with a yield of 86,300 liters. The nutritional needs of young sheep are lower, but stabilize at 500 liters per month for a group of ten. Wool production increases over time, reaching its maximum of 600 liters per month for ten sheep after 18 months. Despite their inability to exchange profitably, sheep have an impressive profitability with over 226,000 euros profit per hectare.
Goats 🐐
Goats are like sheep in terms of their feed requirements and also need 500 liters per month for ten animals. However, the profit from milk is more rewarding. Goats can be purchased after 16 months to immediately benefit from their maximum possible milk production of 250 liters per month. The profitability of goats is even slightly higher than that of sheep.
Horses 🐎
Horses are demanding when it comes to their diet - they require a mixture of sorghum, hay and carrots, with over 25,000 liters of feed per hectare. Maximum value is reached at 36 months (€5,000) and they can produce foals that can also be sold. Although horses offer a varied source of income, they are less attractive due to the high feed requirements and low profit.
Pigs 🐖
Raising pigs requires a field-specific feed distribution of over 17,000 liters per hectare. Within 24 months, its price rises to 2,500 euros, while it requires 1,274 liters of feed per pig. Pigs also produce manure and digestate (1,456 liters per pig at 24 months). Even though pigs offer an additional source of income, their potential remains below that of other animals.
Dairy cows 🐄
The feed consists of either maize and hay silage or grass and hay silage (yield from grass-based feed: 86,300 liters). The milk production of cows stabilizes after 12 months, while feed consumption continues to increase until the 18th month. Our calculations focus on cows older than 18 months, as they are both prime milk and digestate producers.
Water buffalo 🐃
Water buffaloes are similar to dairy cows both in terms of feed consumption and fermentation residue production. Milk production starts at 12 months and reaches 300 liters per month for ten animals. Surprisingly, water buffaloes achieve high profitability with comparatively little effort.
Cattle 🐂
Cattle are comparable to horses in some respects, but they are only worth 3,500 euros after 36 months. The optimum selling point is at 37 months, taking into account the calf value (92 euros), as this has a significant influence on profitability.
Liquid manure 💩
Manure is a significant source of income, as all manure-producing animals achieve a stable ratio of manure and straw production after a certain amount of effort. While pigs are the least efficient, water buffalo prove to be the best manure producers. The use of straw to produce manure remains worthwhile.
Theoretical profitability ranking
- Goats
- Sheep
- Water buffalo
- Other
Practical animal list
- Water buffalo
- Sheep/goats
- Dairy cows/chickens
- Pigs
- Cattle
- Horses
Explanations to the list: The practical assessment takes into account the time and labor required for feeding, product collection (especially pallets) and space management. Horses require a lot of attention with little profit; pigs and cattle are challenging due to frequent offspring and space management. Dairy cows have the advantage of automatic feeding and easier milk collection. Chickens are profitable, but the daily collection of eggs remains costly. Sheep and goats, although very profitable, suffer from complications in pallet management. Water buffaloes are at the forefront due to their high profits and simple milk collection.
Please bear in mind that the profitability of water buffalo could change in future updates. In addition, breed-specific differences in individual animals do not have a significant impact on profitability. 🐃
