The Cow is a herdable animal in Age of Empires II: The Forgotten, Age of Mythology, and Age of Empires III.

Age of Empires II Edit

Cow sprite

New to The Forgotten, Cows yield 150 food, similarly to Water Buffalo (which in turn appear in Rise of the Rajas). They appear primarily on European maps.

But, they have 14 HP rather than 7 HP, the only one out of six herdables in the game, meaning that Scout Cavalry and Militia in the Dark Age will find it harder to deprive a player of livestock. However, their speed is only 0.65 (all other herdables have 0.7). Like all herdables, they have 3 Line of Sight.

In the Honfoglalás scenario, players can train Cows for 35 food at the Town Center. Players can also train Sheep there, but Cows are a bit more cost-efficient.

Age of Mythology Edit


In Age of Mythology, the cow can be found in the wild on several Norse-themed, such as the Midgard and Jotunheim (making it rarer than Pigs and Goats). Cows fatten over-time (at a base rate of 0.51 food), and have a maximum capacity of 400 food, which is 100 more food that the one both Pigs and Goats provide.

Unlike in Age of Empires II, Cows in Age of Mythology are not advised to be used as scouts due to their small line-of-sight, and poor speed. The use of Cows in food production can be effective after researching Husbandry and after all usable hunt has been exhausted; as a herdable unit, it is the second fastest form of food gathered by Villagers, behind the aforementioned hunt.

Age of Empires III Edit

Cows sacred field

Cows tasked to a Sacred Field

In Age of Empires III, the Cow is a much more effective livestock animal than the Sheep. Stray Cows can be found on the Texas and Painted Desert maps and can be obtained from Treasures. Every European civilization but the Dutch, can send a shipment of 7 Cows. Alternatively, all European civilizations save the Spanish and Portuguese can send the Ranching Home City card, which grants the ability to produce Cows from the Livestock Pen. They are excellent herdables, costing 80 food, and, when fully fattened, granting 500.

In The Asian Dynasties, the Indians cannot kill Cows (or any other herdables) for food. Instead, they get experience points slowly as the time passes. They get XP faster when Cows are tasked on a Sacred Field. They are known as Sacred Cows when captured/trained by Indians. The Japanese cannot gather food from herdables either. Instead, they can task them to Shrines to increase that Shrine's gather rate.

Home City Cards Edit

History Edit

"Scientific Name: Bos taurus
Approx. Size: 5 ft. at the shoulder, 1,200 lb.
Diet: Grasses

Cattle accompanied Europeans to the Americas. Spanish expeditions often traveled with herds of oxen, cattle, sheep, and pigs in tow. The famous Texas Longhorn was bred from Spanish cattle brought from Santo Domingo, though who brought them is unclear. The original herd is said to have accompanied a viceroy, Gregorio de Villalobos, but other Spanish longhorn cattle drives are attributed to Coronado and even Christopher Columbus.

Most of the cattle that lived in the central plains of North America, the herds that sparked range wars and gave birth to cowboys, came from the breeding of these Spanish longhorns and the northern European cattle brought east by other settlers.
