What to know
- Ben’s Request unlocks after completing the early reunion quests at Howling Hill camp.
- You must capture and register a healthy adult animal before butchering is allowed.
- Livestock must be transported properly from the ranch to the butcher area.
- Completing the quest unlocks butchering and grants useful rewards.
You will come across Ben’s Request as part of your early settlement-building activities in Crimson Desert, and it introduces you to one of the game’s more grounded survival systems—livestock management and butchering. While the quest itself is simple on the surface, it teaches mechanics that become important later when you need food resources and camp upgrades.
Here is a quick overview of Ben’s Request quest in Crimson Desert:
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Quest Name | Ben’s Request |
| Location | Howling Hill Camp, Hernand |
| Quest Giver | Ben |
| Objective | Capture and deliver livestock for butchering |
| Key Mechanic | Animal capture, registration, and transport |
| Final Unlock | Butchering system |
| Rewards | Contribution Points + Inventory Upgrade |
How the ranch system and livestock mechanics work
Once you reach Howling Hill Camp in Hernand, Ben introduces you to the idea of making the camp feel alive by adding animals. This is your first exposure to the ranch system, where livestock isn’t just decorative but serves practical purposes like milk production and meat harvesting.
A key rule you must understand early is that not all animals are valid for butchering. The game enforces a realistic system where baby animals cannot be butchered, and only registered livestock can be processed. This means you cannot simply hunt and butcher on the spot—you must follow the full loop of capture → register → transport → butcher.
Registration of Livestock before butchering
After capturing the goat, you cannot immediately proceed to butchering. The game requires livestock to be registered first, which essentially marks the animal as part of your ranch system.
This is where many players get confused. If you skip registration or attempt to butcher directly, the quest will not progress. Once registered, you must transport the same animal to the designated butcher area, not just any random livestock.
How to complete Ben’s Butcher Livestock quest
Step 1
Complete the initial five reunion quests where you regroup with your comrades.
These are required before Ben’s Request becomes available, so make sure you fully finish this early questline.
Step 2
Travel to Howling Hill Camp in Hernand and speak with Ben.
He introduces the ranch idea and asks you to bring in livestock to make the camp more lively.
Step 3
Head to the cattle area and move southeast to locate wild goats.
This is the designated spawn region for the quest objective, and goats are usually found roaming in small groups.
Step 4
Approach a healthy adult goat slowly and capture it by holding the interaction key (E).
Do not rush—if startled, the goat may run away. Also, baby animals cannot be used, so ensure you select a valid target.
Step 5
Carry the goat back to the ranch area at Howling Hill Camp.
Movement is slightly restricted while carrying the animal, so avoid enemies or rough terrain during transport.
Step 6
Register the livestock at the ranch before proceeding further.
This is a critical step. Only registered livestock can be used for butchering, and skipping this will prevent quest progression.
Step 7
Speak with Ben again after registering the goat.
He explains that livestock can provide resources like milk but can also be used as food.
Step 8
Take the same registered goat to Gunner, the camp’s butcher.
Make sure you are transporting the correct animal from your ranch and not a random one.
Step 9
Interact with Gunner to initiate the butchering process.
This completes the main objective and unlocks the butchering system.
Step 10
Return to Ben to finalize the quest and receive your rewards.
This marks the official completion of Ben’s Request.
Ben’s Request quest rewards and unlocks
| Reward Type | Details |
|---|---|
| System Unlock | Butchering Livestock |
| Contribution Points | +125 Hernand Contribution |
| Inventory Upgrade | Medium Bag (+3 slots) |
The most important reward here is not the items, but the system unlock. Once completed, you gain permanent access to livestock butchering, which becomes essential for sustaining your camp and crafting food-related resources.
Unlocking Livestock farming in Crimson Desert
At first glance, Ben’s Request may feel like a simple fetch quest, but it quietly introduces mechanics that scale into mid and late-game progression. Efficient livestock management can reduce your reliance on hunting, and having access to butchering ensures a steady food supply.
There’s also a subtle narrative layer. The quest intentionally highlights the irony of raising and then slaughtering livestock, reflecting the survival-driven tone of Crimson Desert. You’re not just building a camp—you’re making practical, sometimes uncomfortable decisions to keep it running.
