Aurochs are large bovine animals that spawn throughout Middle-earth. They are larger and stronger than Vanilla cows, in addition to their ability to defend themselves when attacked. They replace the vanilla cow in most 'wild' biomes, similarly to boar and deer.
A thriving herd of aurochs feasting on Dalish meadows.
Spawning[]
They occur in almost all temperate biomes except for the Shire, Breeland, Dorwinion and the Pelennor Fields of Gondor, where domesticated cows have taken their role in the 'natural' order. Like elk and wild boar, they are non-domesticated animals and behave a little differently, so beware of their temper.
The Kine of Araw, a larger white variant of the aurochs, spawns only in Dorwinion, Emyn Winion, Rhúdel, and rarely in Wilderland.
As top herbivores in most biomes, their occurrence is lowest of all larger passive mammals. Their numbers are typically half of that of sheep in any biome.
Behaviour[]
Aurochs are neutral mobs, wandering their habitat and ignoring the player and other mobs or NPCs unless provoked. If harmed by either the player or an NPC such as an orc archer, an aurochs will charge its attacker, dealing damage with its horns and knocking the opponent back.
They can be lured and fed with wheat (
). Two aurochs who have been fed will breed and produce an infant aurochs.
Drops[]
| Drop | Rarity | Quantity | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Beef | Always | 2-4 | 
|
| Leather | Always | 2-4 | 
|
| Horn | Always | 1 | 
|
Trivia[]
The anglo-saxon ur-rune ᚢ (= letter U) means "cattle" or "aurochs". Tolkien used those ᚱᚢᚾᛖᛋ for some texts in the initial drafts of "The Lord of the Rings", later on, he replaced them by cirth runes.
| “ | ᚢ The aurochs is proud and has great horns; it is a very savage beast and fights with its horns; a great ranger of the moors, it is a creature of mettle. |
” |
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Animals of Middle-Earth
Farm Animals •
Squid •
Bat
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