Breeding



Breeding is an upcoming game mechanic in the next beta update of Minecraft. It will allow fed animals to breed with each other to make new animals of that species. Notch most likely for fun tweeted: "You know what would be fun? If every single animal in minecraft came from eggs. Breeding would involve moving egg blocks around."

Current Mechanics
As of Beta 1.9 pre-release 2, Pigs, Sheep, Cows, Chickens, Snow Golems and Mooshrooms follow you if you have wheat in your hand and are within 16 blocks. If you feed them Wheat, they enter "love mode". Animals in "love mode" emit hearts at a constant rate and will path towards nearby animals of the same type that are also in love mode. After about a second, a third animal of the same type spawns on one of the parents which both end love mode.

Currently, all animals are grain-fed and require two wheat to produce a single animal of any type. After initial investment in a ranch, animals can essentially convert wheat into various resources at a constant average rate. A confined space is necessary to get them to breed efficiently. Despite laying eggs, chickens do not use them to breed. All sheep are born white irrespective of their parentage. Animals are uninterested in wheat lying on the ground.

Ranching
Animals in an open setting may be difficult to breed. It may be easier to construct pens or find pastures for animals to stay. Even a medium size pasture can result in animals neglecting to notice one another in love mode. However, a small sized pen can have some issues with larger animals, as offspring may spawn outside the pen. An ideal setting is to have an area in which animals can roam freely, yet have good anti-escape mechanisms.

Ranching cows and pigs may be very worthwhile if done for food or leather. While breeding sheep can yield more wool, all sheep born are white, which meaning one would have to dye them for the desired color. Mooshrooms are very worthwhile to breed, as they can yield the most product: mushroom stew if "milked," between two and seven red mushrooms if sheared, and any other typical cow drops after shearing. Players may wish to keep some Mooshrooms for the renewable food source without breeding because they can be a constant source of stew.

Trivia

 * All sheep breed white sheep, no matter what original color the parents have. It is unknown if this is a bug or not.


 * Mooshrooms and cows can breed with one another, this may produce either a cow or a mooshroom. It is unknown whether this is a bug or not.


 * It is possible to feed a Snow Golem with wheat. This will result in it entering love mode. If two snow golems are together in love mode, they will attack each other. This is likely a bug.


 * It is possible to breed Wolves with wheat. It is unknown if this is a bug or not.


 * In 1.9pre3 animals breed baby animals, which have different sounds and are smaller. Lambs (Baby Sheep) drop wool upon shearing.


 * Baby animals do not drop any items on death.


 * Once 2 animals become parents they will follow the baby where ever it goes.

Bugs

 * If a single piece of wheat is used to make a mob enter love mode, the wheat will become an unlimited stack like in creative mode. (Fixed in 1.9pre3).