Sheep — Feed Requirements Guide
Sheep are small ruminants that efficiently convert forage into meat, wool, and milk. An average ewe at 175 lbs consumes approximately 5.25 lbs of dry matter daily, primarily from pasture, hay, and crop residues. Sheep nutrition differs from cattle in several important ways: sheep are extremely sensitive to copper toxicity and must never receive cattle mineral supplements, they have higher protein requirements during lactation relative to body size, and they are more susceptible to urinary calculi when fed high-grain diets without adequate roughage. Successful sheep production requires careful attention to the nutritional demands of each production phase, particularly the flushing period before breeding and late gestation when pregnancy toxemia is a significant risk. The National Research Council recommends that sheep diets contain a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of at least 2:1 to prevent urinary calculi in rams and wethers.
Sheep Nutritional Requirements by Life Stage
The table below shows how dry matter intake, protein requirements, and feed costs change across the 6 life stages of sheep production. Life stage adjustments account for the dramatically different energy and protein demands of lactation, growth, gestation, and maintenance. Click any life stage for a dedicated page with detailed feeding recommendations and management tips.
| Life Stage | DMI Adj. | Daily DMI | Protein % | Daily Protein | Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance Ewe | 1x | 5.3 lbs | 10% | 0.5 lbs | $13.42 |
| Flushing (Pre-Breeding) | 1.2x | 6.3 lbs | 12% | 0.8 lbs | $16.11 |
| Late Gestation | 1.15x | 6.0 lbs | 13% | 0.8 lbs | $15.44 |
| Lactating Ewe | 1.4x | 7.4 lbs | 15% | 1.1 lbs | $18.79 |
| Growing Lamb | 1.3x | 6.8 lbs | 16% | 1.1 lbs | $17.45 |
| Breeding Ram | 1.1x | 5.8 lbs | 12% | 0.7 lbs | $14.77 |
*Monthly cost estimated using grass hay at $150/ton. Actual costs vary by feed type and region.
Recommended Feeds for Sheep
The following feeds meet both the minimum crude protein and TDN requirements for sheep at maintenance level (10% protein, 55% TDN) when fed as the sole feed source. In practice, most feeding programs combine multiple feed ingredients to optimize cost and nutritional balance.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | As-Fed/Day | Cost/Ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa Hay | 18% | 58% | 5.8 lbs | $250 |
| Haylage (Baleage) | 14% | 60% | 11.7 lbs | $80 |
| Oats | 12% | 70% | 5.9 lbs | $210 |
| Barley | 13% | 84% | 6.0 lbs | $230 |
| Soybean Meal | 44% | 84% | 5.8 lbs | $450 |
| Cottonseed Meal | 41% | 75% | 5.8 lbs | $380 |
| Distillers Grains (Dried) | 27% | 86% | 5.8 lbs | $200 |
| Wheat Bran | 16% | 67% | 5.9 lbs | $180 |
| Rice Bran | 13% | 65% | 5.8 lbs | $200 |
| Pasture Grass (Fresh) | 12% | 62% | 21.0 lbs | $0 |
| Corn Gluten Feed | 21% | 80% | 6.0 lbs | $200 |
| Canola Meal | 36% | 74% | 5.8 lbs | $350 |
| Layer Pellets | 16% | 70% | 5.8 lbs | $400 |
| Broiler Starter | 22% | 78% | 5.8 lbs | $450 |
| Horse Sweet Feed | 12% | 72% | 6.0 lbs | $350 |
| Brewers Grains (Wet) | 26% | 66% | 21.9 lbs | $60 |
| Alfalfa Hay Cubes | 17% | 56% | 5.8 lbs | $300 |
Feeds Requiring Supplementation
These feeds meet either the protein or TDN requirement but not both, and would need to be combined with other feeds in a balanced ration. The table indicates which nutritional requirement is met and which needs supplementation.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | Protein OK? | TDN OK? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Hay | 9% | 55% | No | Yes |
| Bermuda Grass Hay | 10% | 52% | Yes | No |
| Corn Silage | 8% | 70% | No | Yes |
| Whole Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Cracked Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Beet Pulp | 9% | 74% | No | Yes |
| Molasses | 5% | 72% | No | Yes |
| Fat Supplement (Bypass Fat) | 0% | 180% | No | Yes |
| Urea (Feed Grade) | 281% | 0% | Yes | No |
Feeding Sheep at Different Body Weights
Body weight directly determines dry matter intake. The table below shows how daily feed requirements change across a range of body weights for sheep at maintenance level. Use the calculator for custom weights, life stages, and herd sizes.
| Body Weight | Daily DMI | Daily Protein | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 lbs | 3.2 lbs | 0.3 lbs | 95 lbs | 0.57 tons |
| 140 lbs | 4.2 lbs | 0.4 lbs | 126 lbs | 0.77 tons |
| 175 lbs | 5.3 lbs | 0.5 lbs | 158 lbs | 0.96 tons |
| 210 lbs | 6.3 lbs | 0.6 lbs | 189 lbs | 1.15 tons |
| 263 lbs | 7.9 lbs | 0.8 lbs | 237 lbs | 1.44 tons |
Herd Size Feed Budgets for Sheep
Planning feed purchases and storage requires estimating total feed needs for your herd over time. The table below shows monthly and annual feed requirements and costs for various herd sizes of sheep at maintenance level using grass hay at $150/ton.
| Head Count | Daily DMI Total | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 26.3 lbs | 0.39 tons | 4.79 tons | $816.58 |
| 10 | 52.5 lbs | 0.79 tons | 9.58 tons | $1,633.17 |
| 25 | 131.3 lbs | 1.97 tons | 23.95 tons | $4,082.92 |
| 50 | 262.5 lbs | 3.94 tons | 47.91 tons | $8,165.84 |
| 100 | 525.0 lbs | 7.88 tons | 95.81 tons | $16,331.68 |
| 200 | 1,050.0 lbs | 15.75 tons | 191.63 tons | $32,663.35 |
Other Animals
Browse feed requirement guides for other livestock species.