diff --git a/Cow.java b/Cow.java
index cab68c9..ad6e2e9 100755
--- a/Cow.java
+++ b/Cow.java
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@
 		name = makeName(sex, id);
 		generation = 1;
 		traits = new HashMap<String, Integer>();
-		traits.put("milk", 1);
-		traits.put("strength", 5);
-		traits.put("meat", 1);
-		traits.put("aggression", 10);
+		traits.put("milk", Herd.randomInt(5));
+		traits.put("strength", Herd.randomInt(5));
+		traits.put("meat", Herd.randomInt(5));
+		traits.put("aggression", Herd.randomInt(10));
 		parents = new int[] {0,0};
 	}
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 		else generation = mother.getGeneration()+1;
 		if (generation > maxGen) maxGen = generation;
 		//Choose a random sex
-		if (Herd.random.nextInt(2) == 1) sex = "male";
+		if (Herd.randomInt(2) == 1) sex = "male";
 		else sex = "female";
 		name = makeName(sex, id);
 		//Calculate new trait values
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
 	{
 		int newtrait = (int) Math.round((fathertrait+mothertrait)/2);
 		int quartertrait = (int) Math.round(newtrait*0.25);
-		int randomfactor = Herd.random.nextInt(quartertrait*2) - quartertrait;
+		int randomfactor = Herd.randomInt(quartertrait*2) - quartertrait;
 		return newtrait+randomfactor;
 	}
 

diff --git a/Cow.java b/Cow.java
index cab68c9..ad6e2e9 100755
--- a/Cow.java
+++ b/Cow.java
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@
 		name = makeName(sex, id);
 		generation = 1;
 		traits = new HashMap<String, Integer>();
-		traits.put("milk", 1);
-		traits.put("strength", 5);
-		traits.put("meat", 1);
-		traits.put("aggression", 10);
+		traits.put("milk", Herd.randomInt(5));
+		traits.put("strength", Herd.randomInt(5));
+		traits.put("meat", Herd.randomInt(5));
+		traits.put("aggression", Herd.randomInt(10));
 		parents = new int[] {0,0};
 	}
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 		else generation = mother.getGeneration()+1;
 		if (generation > maxGen) maxGen = generation;
 		//Choose a random sex
-		if (Herd.random.nextInt(2) == 1) sex = "male";
+		if (Herd.randomInt(2) == 1) sex = "male";
 		else sex = "female";
 		name = makeName(sex, id);
 		//Calculate new trait values
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@
 	{
 		int newtrait = (int) Math.round((fathertrait+mothertrait)/2);
 		int quartertrait = (int) Math.round(newtrait*0.25);
-		int randomfactor = Herd.random.nextInt(quartertrait*2) - quartertrait;
+		int randomfactor = Herd.randomInt(quartertrait*2) - quartertrait;
 		return newtrait+randomfactor;
 	}
 
diff --git a/Herd.java b/Herd.java
index c42b206..4fdb867 100755
--- a/Herd.java
+++ b/Herd.java
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@
 {
 	public static int initialSize = 4;
 	private static Herd singleton;
-	//allow other classes to access the RNG
-	public static Random random; 
+	private static Random random; 
 	
 	private ArrayList<Cow> herd;
 	private Cow[] parents;
@@ -40,13 +39,16 @@
 
 	public static Herd getInstance()
 	{
-		if (singleton == null) {
-			random = new Random();
-			singleton = new Herd();
-		}
+		if (singleton == null) singleton = new Herd();
 		return singleton;
 	}
 
+	public static int randomInt(int max)
+	{
+		if (random == null) random = new Random();
+		return random.nextInt(max);
+	}
+
 	public int size()
 	{
 		return herd.size();