In Stardew Valley, farming is more than just planting crops. Raising animals is a core part of the game, offering players milk, wool, and artisan products like cheese and cloth that can sell for high profits. To raise animals such as cows, goats, and sheep, you’ll need a barn—one of the most important farm buildings in the game.
This complete guide will walk you through everything about barns in Stardew Valley, including how to build them, upgrades, animals you can keep, profit strategies, and tips for maximizing efficiency.
What Is a Barn in Stardew Valley?
A barn is a farm building constructed by Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop. It provides shelter for animals, allowing them to live, eat, and produce valuable goods.
Barns are a step up from the coop, which houses chickens, ducks, and rabbits. While coops focus on eggs and feathers, barns specialize in milk and wool production, leading to high-profit artisan products like cheese and cloth.
How to Build a Barn
To build your first barn, visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop (north of Pelican Town). You’ll need both gold and building materials.
Basic Barn Cost:
- 6,000 g
- 350 Wood
- 150 Stone
- Construction Time: 2 in-game days
Once built, you can purchase cows from Marnie’s Ranch to fill it.
Barn Upgrades
The Barn has two major upgrades: Big Barn and Deluxe Barn. Each upgrade unlocks more space and animals, making your farm more productive.
1. Big Barn
- Cost: 12,000g, 450 Wood, 200 Stone
- Capacity: 8 Animals (up from 4)
- Unlocks: Goats
- Additional Feature: Comes with an incubator to hatch baby animals.
2. Deluxe Barn
- Cost: 25,000g, 550 Wood, 300 Stone
- Capacity: 12 Animals
- Unlocks: Sheep and Pigs
- Additional Feature: Automatic feeding system (hay dispenser), making daily care much easier.
Tip: Always upgrade as soon as you can. The Deluxe Barn not only holds more animals but also unlocks the most profitable livestock—pigs, which produce valuable truffles.
Animals in the Barn
Each barn upgrade unlocks new types of animals you can raise.
Cows
- Cost: 1,500g each (from Marnie’s Ranch).
- Product: Milk (regular and large).
- Processed Into: Cheese (via Cheese Press).
- Profit: Cheese is a steady and reliable income source.
Goats
- Cost: 4,000 g each.
- Product: Goat Milk (regular and large).
- Processed Into: Goat Cheese (high value with artisan profession).
Sheep
- Cost: 8,000 g each.
- Product: Wool.
- Processed Into: Cloth (via Loom).
- Profit: Not as high as pigs, but useful for completing bundles and clothing.
Pigs
- Cost: 16,000 g each.
- Product: Truffles (when outside).
- Profit: Extremely high—truffles can be processed into Truffle Oil (1,065g base, 1,491g with Artisan).
Barn Animal Care
To keep your animals happy and productive, you’ll need to manage their care properly:
Feeding:
- Animals eat hay (grown from grass or purchased from Marnie).
- With the Deluxe Barn, the automatic Hay Dispenser makes feeding easier.
Petting:
- Interact with animals daily to raise friendship, which boosts product quality.
Let Them Outside:
- Animals love grazing on grass outside during sunny weather.
- Happier animals = higher-quality products.
Protect in Winter:
- Animals cannot graze in winter. Always stockpile hay beforehand.
Profits from Barn Animals
Barn animals can generate huge profits, especially once you start turning raw goods into artisan products.
Profit Breakdown:
- Cheese (Cow): 230g base → 460g (Gold) → 690g (Iridium)
- Goat Cheese: 400g base → 800g (Gold) → 1,200g (Iridium)
- Cloth (Sheep Wool): 470g base → 752g (with Artisan)
- Truffle Oil (Pig): 1,065g base → 1,491g (with Artisan)
If you want maximum profit, focus on goat cheese and truffle oil, as they sell for the highest prices.
Best Strategies for Barn Farming
- Upgrade Early: Move from Barn → Big Barn → Deluxe Barn as fast as possible.
- Prioritize Pigs: Once you unlock the Deluxe Barn, pigs will become your most profitable animal.
- Artisan Profession: Choose the Artisan profession at Farming Level 10. It increases the sale price of artisan goods like cheese and truffle oil by 40%.
- Use Kegs & Cheese Presses: Always process milk into cheese and truffles into truffle oil. Never sell raw goods.
- Winter Preparation: Stockpile hay by cutting grass in fall or buying from Marnie.
Barn vs. Coop: Which Should You Prioritize?
Both barns and coops have their uses, but for profit-driven players:
- Barn Advantage: Higher-value products (cheese, goat cheese, truffle oil).
- Coop Advantage: Faster to set up (cheaper and smaller animals).
For long-term profitability, barns provide better returns, especially once you unlock pigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best barn animal in Stardew Valley?
Pigs are the best barn animals because truffles can be turned into truffle oil, which sells for up to 1,491 g each with the Artisan profession.
Can barn animals die in Stardew Valley?
No, animals cannot die. However, neglecting them will lower happiness and reduce product quality.
Do barn animals produce in winter?
Yes, cows, goats, and sheep still produce indoors in winter if fed daily. However, pigs do not find truffles in winter.
How many barns can I have?
You can build multiple barns if you want to expand your animal production. Many players build several Deluxe Barns filled with pigs for maximum truffle oil profits.
Is it worth upgrading to a Deluxe Barn?
Yes. The Deluxe Barn not only increases capacity but also unlocks sheep and pigs and provides auto-feeding, making it the best barn upgrade.
Conclusion
The barn in Stardew Valley is one of the most rewarding farm buildings, unlocking a steady supply of milk, cheese, wool, and the highly profitable truffle oil. Starting with cows in a basic barn, progressing to goats in a big barn, and finally unlocking pigs in a deluxe barn creates a natural path to farming success.
With proper care, automatic feeding, and the Artisan profession, barns can generate massive profits year-round. Whether you’re aiming to complete bundles, craft artisan goods, or simply maximize your income, investing in barns is a smart strategy for long-term success in Stardew Valley.
So, if you’re looking to take your farm to the next level, build that barn early, upgrade it as soon as possible, and start raising animals that will turn your humble farm into a thriving empire.
