What Do Sheep Eat? Complete Diet & Feeding Guide

Sheep are ruminant grazers closely adapted to eating grass, forbs, and legumes at ground level. Like cattle and goats, they have a four-chambered stomach (rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum) that ferments fibrous plant material with the help of billions of microorganisms.

Sheep are more selective grazers than cattle. They have a split upper lip and narrow muzzle that allows them to pick individual plants and plant parts, often selecting the most nutritious leaves and seed heads while leaving stems. This selective grazing makes them effective at managing mixed pastures and even controlling certain weeds.

Sheep spend approximately 8-10 hours per day grazing when on pasture, and they typically graze in early morning and late afternoon, resting and chewing cud during midday. Healthy cud chewing is a sign of a well-functioning rumen and good fiber intake.

The rumen holds roughly 4-6 gallons in an adult sheep and serves as the fermentation vat where fiber is broken down into volatile fatty acids that provide most of the sheep's energy. Diet changes must be made gradually over 7-14 days to allow the rumen microbial population to adjust. Abrupt changes — particularly sudden access to grain or lush legume pasture — can cause bloat, acidosis, or enterotoxemia (pulpy kidney disease), all of which can be rapidly fatal.

Sheep have a lower metabolic rate than goats and generally require less feed per unit of body weight. A mature ewe in maintenance condition typically eats 2-3% of body weight in dry matter per day.

Sheep can safely eat various supplemental foods alongside their forage-based diet.

Vegetables: Carrots (a favorite), beets, turnips, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, cabbage, and kale. Root vegetables are commonly used as supplemental feeds in cold climates.

Fruits: Apples (cut to prevent choking), pears, watermelon, bananas, berries, grapes, and cantaloupe. As with all livestock, fruits are high in sugar and should be offered sparingly.

Forage: Grass hay (timothy, orchard, Bermuda, brome), grass/legume mixed hay, and quality pasture are the dietary staples. Alfalfa hay is appropriate for growing lambs, lactating ewes, and thin animals but is too rich for most maintenance sheep and can contribute to urinary calculi in rams and wethers.

Grains: Oats (the safest grain for sheep), barley, corn (cracked or whole), and wheat in moderation. Grain should always be introduced gradually and measured carefully.

Browse: Sheep can eat blackberry and raspberry canes, willow, and many non-toxic shrubs, though they prefer grass to browse. They are useful for managing pasture weeds.

Key rule: Sheep are efficient foragers and most healthy adult sheep in maintenance can thrive on quality pasture or hay plus sheep-specific minerals and fresh water. Grain is supplemental — used for production demands (late pregnancy, lactation, growing lambs, finishing) rather than as a daily staple for all sheep.

Several foods and plants pose serious risks to sheep:

COPPER — The Critical Difference: Sheep are extremely susceptible to copper toxicity. While goats and cattle need copper in their diets, sheep accumulate copper in the liver until it reaches toxic levels, then release it suddenly, causing hemolytic crisis that is often fatal. Never feed goat minerals, cattle minerals, horse feed, or pig feed to sheep. Always use sheep-specific minerals that are copper-free or very low in copper. This is the single most important mineral management rule for sheep.

Toxic plants: Rhododendron and azalea (rapidly toxic), yew (all parts — fatal within hours), cherry leaves (especially wilted — cyanide release), red maple leaves (wilted), bracken fern (causes bone marrow suppression), nightshade, water hemlock, and poison hemlock.

Grain overload: Sudden access to grain or rapid increases in grain feeding causes acute acidosis and enterotoxemia (clostridial overgrowth), both of which can be fatal within hours. Always introduce grain gradually and keep grain bins locked.

Moldy feed: Mycotoxins from moldy hay, grain, or silage cause liver damage, abortion, and immune suppression. Discard any feed that shows mold growth.

Dog and cat food: Not appropriate for ruminants and may contain copper levels toxic to sheep.

Lawn clippings: Fresh grass clippings ferment rapidly and can cause bloat if eaten in quantity. Do not dump clippings into sheep paddocks.

Pasture management: Walk pastures regularly to identify toxic plants. Sheep are more likely to eat toxic plants when forage is scarce, in drought conditions, or when new plants appear.

Sheep nutritional needs vary by age, reproductive status, and production purpose.

Lambs (0-8 weeks): Newborn lambs must receive colostrum within the first 1-2 hours of life. Lambs nurse from the ewe and begin nibbling hay and creep feed by 1-2 weeks. Creep feed (18-20% protein) offered in a creep feeder that excludes ewes gives lambs supplemental nutrition and prepares them for weaning.

Weanlings (8-16 weeks): After weaning, lambs need quality hay and a moderate grain ration (16-18% protein) to support growth. Weaning is stressful — maintaining feed intake and providing familiar feeds reduces post-weaning growth checks.

Growing lambs (4-8 months): Market lambs being finished for slaughter receive increasing grain rations (up to 2-3% of body weight daily) with hay or pasture. Replacement ewe lambs should grow steadily on pasture/hay with moderate grain to reach breeding size by 7-9 months.

Adult ewes (maintenance): Mature ewes in good condition on adequate pasture generally need only forage, sheep-specific minerals, and water. Most ewes do not need grain outside of production periods.

Ewes (late pregnancy, last 6 weeks): Energy demands increase 30-50% as lambs grow rapidly in the final trimester. Supplement with 0.5-1 pound of grain daily, increasing as lambing approaches. Inadequate nutrition causes pregnancy toxemia (twin lamb disease), which can be fatal.

Ewes (lactating): A lactating ewe producing milk for twins needs significant supplemental nutrition — 1-2 pounds of grain daily plus free-choice quality hay. Peak milk production occurs 3-4 weeks after lambing and is the highest nutritional demand period.

Rams: Breeding rams should be in good condition (not fat) at the start of breeding season. Supplemental grain (0.5-1 lb/day) for 4-6 weeks before and during breeding maintains stamina. Outside breeding season, rams do well on hay and minerals alone.

Sheep nutrition centers on forage, with commercial feeds used to fill specific production gaps.

Hay: The backbone of stored-feed nutrition. Grass hay (timothy, orchard, brome, Bermuda) is the standard for maintenance. Alfalfa hay provides higher protein and calcium — ideal for lactating ewes and growing lambs, but too rich and high in calcium for maintenance animals and potentially problematic for rams/wethers (urinary calculi risk). A grass/alfalfa mix is a practical compromise for many flocks.

Sheep-specific pelleted feed: Available from major manufacturers, these are formulated with appropriate mineral levels (low or no copper). Available in lamb grower, ewe maintenance, and ewe/lamb formulations. Pellets prevent selective eating and reduce waste.

Whole grains: Oats are the safest and most commonly recommended grain for sheep — they have a favorable energy-to-fiber ratio that reduces acidosis risk. Barley and corn are also used but are more energy-dense and need more careful introduction. Wheat should be limited to 25% of the grain mix due to acidosis risk.

Protein supplements: Soybean meal is the most common protein supplement for sheep rations. Cottonseed meal, canola meal, and commercial protein pellets are also used. Urea-based supplements should only be used in professionally formulated rations.

Important: Always verify that any commercial feed given to sheep is labeled safe for sheep and does not contain copper levels intended for cattle or goats. Even small amounts of supplemental copper can be dangerous over time.

Cost: Sheep feed runs approximately $15-$25 per 50-pound bag. Hay costs vary enormously by region — $4-$12 per small square bale is typical in much of the US.

Mineral supplementation is critical for sheep, with copper management being the defining concern.

Sheep-specific loose mineral: Use ONLY minerals formulated for sheep. These will be low in or free of copper. Provide free-choice in a covered feeder. Common formulations include salt, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, manganese, and iodine — but very little or no copper.

Salt: Sheep need salt in their diet. Most sheep minerals include salt, but a separate salt block or loose salt can also be provided. Salt helps drive water consumption, which supports rumen function.

Selenium: Deficiency causes white muscle disease in lambs and poor immune function. Much of the eastern and northwestern US has selenium-deficient soils. Supplementation via minerals, injectable selenium (BoSe) at birth, or selenium-fortified salt is important in deficient areas.

Calcium and Phosphorus: Important for skeletal development and milk production. The ratio should be approximately 2:1 (calcium to phosphorus). Rams and wethers on high-grain diets are at risk for urinary calculi — maintaining the proper Ca:P ratio and adding ammonium chloride to the ration helps prevent stones.

Vitamin E: Works with selenium to support muscle function and immune health. Supplementation is particularly important for pregnant ewes in selenium-deficient regions.

Ammonium chloride: Added to ram and wether rations at 0.5-1% to acidify urine and prevent urinary calculi (bladder stones). This is especially important for wethers (castrated males) and rams on grain diets.

Probiotics: Useful during stress periods (weaning, transport, weather extremes, illness) to support rumen microbial health.

Sheep nutrition management follows seasonal patterns:

Winter: Sheep on stored feeds need adequate hay to maintain body condition. A mature ewe may eat 3-5 pounds of hay per day, more in severe cold. Pregnant ewes in late gestation need supplemental grain (increasing in the final 6 weeks) to prevent pregnancy toxemia. Ensure water is not frozen — sheep drink 1-3 gallons per day. Wool provides excellent insulation, but sheep still need more calories in extreme cold.

Spring: Transition to pasture gradually over 7-14 days. Rapid access to lush spring grass causes bloat and scours. Continue offering hay during the transition. Spring is lambing season — ensure ewes have peak nutrition for lactation. Watch for grass tetany on lush pasture, especially in lactating ewes. Parasite pressure begins increasing; rotational grazing helps manage internal parasites.

Summer: Quality pasture can meet most nutritional needs for maintenance sheep. Rotational grazing is strongly recommended — move sheep to fresh pasture every 3-7 days and avoid re-grazing for at least 30 days to break parasite cycles. Ensure shade, clean water, and good ventilation in hot weather. Recently shorn sheep are more susceptible to sunburn.

Fall: Pasture quality declines. Begin supplementing with hay as needed. This is breeding season for most flocks — ewes should be in good body condition (BCS 3-3.5 on a 1-5 scale). Flushing (increasing nutrition 2-3 weeks before breeding) can improve ovulation rates and twinning. Rams should be fit, not fat, for breeding. Begin planning winter feed supplies and assess hay quality with a forage test.