diff --git a/Cow.java b/Cow.java
index ecad563..5a11a43 100755
--- a/Cow.java
+++ b/Cow.java
@@ -87,7 +87,11 @@
 		return generation;
 	}
 
-
+	public int[] getParents()
+	{
+		return parents;
+	}
+	
 	public String getName()
 	{
 		return name;

diff --git a/Cow.java b/Cow.java
index ecad563..5a11a43 100755
--- a/Cow.java
+++ b/Cow.java
@@ -87,7 +87,11 @@
 		return generation;
 	}
 
-
+	public int[] getParents()
+	{
+		return parents;
+	}
+	
 	public String getName()
 	{
 		return name;
diff --git a/Herd.java b/Herd.java
index ae3ecdf..200d05a 100755
--- a/Herd.java
+++ b/Herd.java
@@ -79,15 +79,25 @@
 
 	public String checkBreeding()
 	{
-		//TODO
+		//check both parents present
+		if (parents[0] == null) return "You haven't selected a bull!";
+		if (parents[1] == null) return "You haven't selected a cow!";
+		//check age difference (max 3 generations)
+		if (Math.abs(parents[0].getGeneration() - parents[1].getGeneration()) > 3)
+			return "The age difference between the parents is too great!";
+		//check for siblings
+		if (parents[0].getParents()[0] == parents[1].getParents()[0] &&
+			parents[0].getParents()[1] == parents[1].getParents()[1])
+			return "You cannot let siblings mate!";
 		return "OK";
 	}
 
 	public void breed()
 	{
-		//TODO
-		//randomly generate either one or two offspring
-		//breed the parents to create the offspring
+		if (checkBreeding() != "OK") return;
+		int noffs = random.nextInt(2)+1;
+		offspring[0] = new Cow(parents[0], parents[1]);
+		if (noffs == 2) offspring[1] = new Cow(parents[0], parents[1]);
 	}
 
 	public void keepChild(int id)