<span class="bold">Cattle</span> can be bought or stolen from Villages, although stealing them will reduce your Reputation with the village. The price in that village will rise each time you buy cattle, but the cost will reset after some time. Cattle must be bought personally from the Village Elder in the village, you can't buy the cattle directly from the trade menu. The number stolen, and the chance to successfully steal them, is based on your Looting skill. Once you have acquired cattle, they appear on the overland map rather than going into your inventory.

Upon encountering a herd, there will be three options:
- Leave it. If you leave it, the cattle will eventually despawn.
- Slaughter a given amount of cattle, giving you fresh beef. Two pieces for every one you slaughter.
- Herd them, driving them toward the location you want to go. The best method is usually to move behind them and press space bar in order to wait. When they are far, then get close again. In With Fire & Sword and Viking Conquest, the cattle will follow you.