Introduction
ARK: Survival Evolved thrusts players into a dynamic prehistoric world where survival is paramount. From crafting shelters and weapons to taming formidable dinosaurs, every action counts. Amidst this chaotic environment, the humble Ovis, or sheep, plays a surprisingly significant role. Far from being mere decorations, these woolly creatures are valuable sources of wool, potential meat, and, if you’re ambitious, even breeding stock. The key to unlocking these benefits lies in understanding their dietary needs. This article serves as your comprehensive guide to understanding sheep food in ARK, covering everything from taming techniques to efficient wool production.
What Do Sheep Eat in ARK? A Dietary Overview
Before diving into the specifics, it’s crucial to understand the dietary nuances of ARK’s sheep. While they may seem like simple grazers, their feeding habits are a bit more complex than you might initially expect.
The All-Important Sweet Vegetable Cake
The single most critical element in taming a wild Ovis is the Sweet Vegetable Cake. This crafted delicacy is not just a treat; it’s the *only* food that will effectively tame these creatures. Trying to tame a sheep with berries or any other food will be an exercise in futility. They simply won’t accept it as a taming food. The Sweet Vegetable Cake works by drastically increasing the taming effectiveness of the creature when consumed. Think of it as the sheep’s absolute favorite food, irresistible and essential for a successful taming endeavor.
The Wild Sheep’s Natural Diet
Before you even consider taming, it’s helpful to know what wild sheep typically consume. In their natural habitat, Ovis primarily graze on various types of vegetation. Berries form a significant part of their diet, particularly Mejoberries, as they are a good source of energy. Other berries like Amarberries, Azurberries, and Tintoberries also contribute to their sustenance. It’s important to note that even though these berries sustain wild sheep, they hold no value when attempting to tame the animal.
Sustenance After Taming: Alternative Food Sources
Once you’ve successfully tamed your sheep, you’ll want to keep it happy and healthy. While Sweet Vegetable Cakes remain a viable option (especially for healing), they can be resource-intensive to produce in large quantities for everyday sustenance. Fortunately, tamed sheep will happily munch on a variety of other foods. Berries, as mentioned earlier, are a good choice, and various vegetables like Longrass, Rockarrot, Savoroot, and Citronal will also provide them with the necessary nutrients. Keep in mind that these alternatives are strictly for maintaining their health and hunger levels; they won’t contribute to taming effectiveness.
Sweet Vegetable Cakes: The Secret to Taming Success
Now that we’ve established the importance of Sweet Vegetable Cakes, let’s delve into the details of crafting them. The recipe is relatively straightforward, but gathering the necessary ingredients can be a challenging task, especially in the early game.
The Recipe and Its Ingredients
To craft a Sweet Vegetable Cake, you’ll need the following ingredients: two units of Sap, four units of Honey, twenty-five units of Mejoberries, two units of Carrots, two units of Corn, and two units of Citronal.
Each ingredient plays a vital role in the final product. Sap and Honey are particularly crucial, contributing to the cake’s unique sweetness and nutritional value that makes it irresistible to sheep. Mejoberries provide a base level of sustenance and energy, while the Carrots, Corn, and Citronal add essential vitamins and minerals.
Crafting the Cake
Sweet Vegetable Cakes are crafted in a Cooking Pot. Ensure that the Cooking Pot is connected to a water source, as water is essential for the cooking process. Simply place all the required ingredients into the Cooking Pot, ignite the fire, and wait. The crafting time is relatively short, allowing you to quickly produce a batch of cakes once you have all the ingredients on hand.
Gathering the Necessary Ingredients
Acquiring the ingredients for Sweet Vegetable Cakes can be an adventure in itself.
Sap: Sap can be obtained from Redwood trees by using Sap Taps. Attach the taps to the trees and periodically harvest the accumulated sap. Some creatures can also yield sap, such as the Dire Bear.
Honey: Obtaining Honey usually involves raiding Giant Bee Hives. This can be a dangerous endeavor, so approach with caution. Using a Beelzebufo (frog) can make honey gathering much safer and more efficient, as they are immune to the Bee’s stinging attacks.
Mejoberries: Mejoberries are the most common berry type and can be found on various bushes throughout the ARK. Consider taming a herbivore, like a Brontosaurus or Stegosaurus, to efficiently harvest large quantities of berries.
Carrots, Corn, and Citronal: These vegetables are grown in crop plots. Build a small, medium, or large crop plot and plant the corresponding seeds. Remember to fertilize the plots to maximize yield.
Effective Sheep Taming Strategies
With a stack of Sweet Vegetable Cakes in your inventory, you’re ready to embark on your sheep-taming adventure.
The Passive Taming Approach
Sheep are tamed passively, meaning you don’t need to knock them unconscious. Instead, you’ll approach them cautiously and feed them the Sweet Vegetable Cakes directly from your inventory.
Strategic Approaches to Feeding
To feed a sheep, approach it slowly, ideally while crouching or wearing a Ghillie Suit to minimize the chances of spooking it. Open your inventory and select the Sweet Vegetable Cake, then choose the “Use” option while targeting the sheep. The sheep will then consume the cake, increasing its taming progress.
Tips for a Smooth Taming Experience
Before you begin, clear the surrounding area of any potential threats. Predators can easily interrupt the taming process and even kill the sheep, wasting your valuable Sweet Vegetable Cakes. Building a small, enclosed pen can provide a safe space for taming. Always keep a close eye on the sheep’s torpor and food levels. If its torpor rises too high, it may become aggressive and attack you.
Taming Effectiveness and Final Results
The higher the taming effectiveness, the better the sheep’s initial stats and potential. Feeding sheep Sweet Vegetable Cakes will keep taming effectiveness near its max. The level at which a sheep is tamed influences the total amount and quality of the wool it produces.
The Multifaceted Benefits of Tamed Sheep
Once you’ve successfully tamed a sheep, you’ll unlock a range of valuable benefits.
Wool Production
The primary benefit of taming sheep is their ability to produce wool. Wool is an essential resource for crafting various items, most notably Fur Armor, which provides crucial protection against cold environments.
Gathering Wool
To harvest wool from a sheep, you’ll need a pair of Scissors. Simply approach the sheep and use the Scissors to shear its wool. The amount of wool obtained depends on the sheep’s level and stats. After shearing, the sheep will need time to regrow its wool. The regrowth time varies but is typically several in-game days.
Wool as a Raw Resource
Wool is indispensable for crafting items that offer defense against harsh weather. With enough of this resource, you can craft items that grant protection from damage and injury. It’s also an extremely valuable trade commodity, as many players on the ARK need wool for building their houses and fortresses.
Meat from Sheep: A Secondary Option
While sheep are primarily valued for their wool, they can also be harvested for meat. However, this is generally considered a less desirable option, as sheep are more valuable as wool producers. If you find yourself in a desperate situation and need a quick source of meat, sheep can provide it, but it’s usually more efficient to hunt other creatures for meat.
Breeding Your Sheep: Expanding Your Flock
Breeding sheep can significantly increase your wool production and provide a steady supply of new sheep for your base.
Essential Breeding Prerequisites
To breed sheep, you’ll need a mate-boosted pair (a male and a female) within a reasonably enclosed area. Ensure they have access to food troughs filled with Sweet Vegetable Cakes or other approved foods.
The Act of Breeding
Enabling mating will allow the process to begin. Afterwards, the female will become pregnant and undergo a gestation phase. During this period, give it the food, water, and security that it needs. When the newborn appears, you can imprint it to give it bonus effects that boost wool production.
Advanced Approaches to Raising Sheep
If you want to maximize your sheep’s wool production rates, you can selectively breed them to give birth to stronger offspring.
Navigating Common Challenges and Solutions
Taming and raising sheep in ARK can present certain challenges.
Preventing Death During Taming
Sheep are notorious for their low health, making them vulnerable to predators and accidental damage during taming. Clear the area thoroughly before attempting to tame, and consider building a taming pen to protect them.
Acquiring Ingredients with Ease
Gathering the ingredients for Sweet Vegetable Cakes can be time-consuming. Optimize your gathering routes and consider taming creatures specialized in resource collection to speed up the process.
Maintaining Wool Production
If your sheep aren’t producing wool, check their hunger and health levels. Ensure they have access to food and are free from injuries or diseases. Keep in mind that there is a shearing cooldown period, so you’ll need to wait for their wool to regrow.
Protecting Sheep from Predators
Predators can pose a significant threat to your sheep. Reinforce your base defenses with walls, fences, and defensive creatures to keep them safe.
Unlocking Advanced Sheep-Keeping Secrets
Sheep can be deployed in desperate situations to act as meat sources. Since players can carry them, they can be kept as a source of meat on long expeditions.
Conclusion: Embrace the Power of Sheep
Sheep may not be the most glamorous creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved, but their value is undeniable. From providing essential wool for crafting to serving as a potential source of meat, these humble animals offer a range of benefits that can significantly enhance your survival experience. By mastering the art of sheep food management and taming, you can unlock the full potential of these woolly companions and thrive in the challenging world of ARK. So, gather your Sweet Vegetable Cakes, approach with caution, and embrace the power of sheep!
