Wilderlands Demographics: Pastoral Cultures

I sat down with Harn Manor, Wikipedia, the Department of Agriculture website, and some other sources to crunch some numbers on Pastoral societies.

Herding animals is more productive than growing crops. But there are several catches. It is more labor intensive particularly if you are herding swine.

While different herd animals (cows, goats, sheep, etc) have useful secondary products (milk, fleece) nearly all your food value is going to come out of a annual slaughter just before winter/dry seasons. You are going to have to feed the remaining animals. If you are not growing crops that means you have to move to winter grounds.

If you live in areas of poor land quality (like the dry continental regions of Eurasia) you need a lot more acres and keep on the move.

Now the figures

Pastoral Agriculture (Cattle, Goat, Sheep)
1 sq mile will feed 500 people
1 sq mile will need 50 able bodied men to work at 100%

Pastoral Agriculture (Swine)
1 sq mile will feed 800 people
1 sq mile will need 100 able bodied men to work at 100%

Pastoral Agriculture (Warrior culture)
(every Able bodied man counts at least as a medium foot, light horse, or bowman)
1 sq mile will feed 60 people
1 sq mile will need 50 able bodied men to work at 100%

The slaughter rate for different livestock are 50% for cows, 66% for goats, 60% for sheep, and 90% for swine.