cow loosing health-why?

[zann0]

For some reason my cows health bar is a bit hurt Its not much but still I am worrying that it would progress
They have food and the calf is with its mother
do the cows have to be able to touch food trough or just be in its range?
do they need the barrel with water?

[Sevenless]

Red or Brown bar?

Red bar is hunger, it depletes over time and an adult will eat from a trough (or grass if the trough is empty). It's normal not to see this completely full. If the red is all gone and the brown is lowering, your cow is starving.

Check the radius on the food trough and make sure it overlaps the entire pen. And that it's got fodder of course.

[Tonkyhonk]

do the cows have to be able to touch food trough or just be in its range?

just be in its range. (they can tele-feed)

do they need the barrel with water?

nope

[MagicManICT]

Ever been to a farm? The troughs are never inside the pens. You don't want to open those gates unless you need to. Even a herd of sheep can run a man over and trample him.

Now you know!

[ScegfOd]

with a little help from lag you can tele-feed too!

1. just right click your carrots in your cupboard
2. lag!
3. left click elsewhere while lagging!
4. when you stop lagging, select eat!
5. ???
6. profit!