Baby animal and milk

[Drevar]

Do baby animals need access to both milk and fodder or just milk? Also, does the milk have to be straight from the same type of animal (calf > cow, lamb >ewe) or will they use whatever is available? Does the milk Q affect their stats as they grow?

[Redkat]

They do need milk. I am a bit unsure of fodder but since the adults needs it no reason not to provide it. The milk can be from a barrel though so I dont think the type of animal that supply milk matters - (yet). Sorry I am unsure of the rest.

[MagicManICT]

Lower milk Q is the same effect as lower fodder quality for adult animals. Quality of food eaten softcaps the animal's qualities. This isn't an issue for animals you want to become adults (just feed better food until qualities are up), but for ones you're harvesting for cheese and jewelry, you'll want to treat them the best you can in their short life.

To follow up on what redkat said, just milk everything and stick it in barrels much like feeding troughs. As long as you have a couple full barrels around for the calves and such to feed on, you can use the rest for cooking. You won't need to worry if that calf will feed directly from a ewe or sow.

[Dominick]

Also, does the milk have to be straight from the same type of animal (calf > cow, lamb >ewe)

I know they won't drink the generic milk when both cow and sheep milk is mixed together. I've got two barrels of milk - one sheep, one cow, and both go down about the same rate.