Sheep Feed Budgeting for Small Flocks: A Practical Guide

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-08-14

Key Takeaways

• Feed constitutes 60-70% of total sheep production expenses, making meticulous budgeting critical for profitability and animal health, preventing undernourishment, poor lamb crops, and increased parasite loads.
• Dry matter intake (DMI) is calculated as 2.5-4% of body weight daily, with 3.5% serving as a practical planning figure; for a 150-pound ewe, this equates to approximately 5.25 pounds of DMI, requiring conversion to "as-fed" weight based on hay's moisture content.
• Nutritional requirements escalate significantly during late gestation (50-60% increase over maintenance) and lactation (80-100% increase), necessitating higher quality forage and supplemental grain to prevent pregnancy toxemia and support milk production.
• Forage quality, assessed via visual inspection and laboratory testing for protein and TDN, dictates the need for supplemental grain; sorting hay by quality and feeding it to appropriate animal classes (e.g., lower quality to dry ewes, higher quality to lactating ewes) optimizes resource utilization.
• Body condition scoring (BCS) on a 1-5 scale, with a target of 3 for most of the year, is a crucial, low-cost monitoring tool to adjust feeding strategies, with changes in BCS taking 3-4 weeks to manifest.
• Minimizing feed waste through proper storage (covered, off the ground) and feeding methods (hay racks, nets) can reduce losses by up to 20%, and purchasing feed, particularly hay, in late summer/early fall can yield significant cost savings of 20-30%.

Keeping a small flock of sheep is one of the most rewarding enterprises a homesteader or small farmer can take on. But the difference between a profitable flock and a money pit often comes down to one thing: how well you plan for feed. Feed represents the single largest variable cost in sheep production, often consuming 60 to 70 percent of your total expenses. For a small flock of 5 to 50 ewes, poor feed budgeting does not just hurt your wallet. It leads to undernourished animals, poor lamb crops, increased parasite loads, and costly veterinary visits.

This guide is written for the shepherd managing a small flock, whether you keep sheep for meat, wool, or as part of a diversified homestead. You will learn how to calculate dry matter intake, estimate forage quality, plan for seasonal changes, build a practical feed budget on paper, and monitor body condition so you can adjust before problems become emergencies. The focus is on practical, low-cost methods that work on a small scale without requiring a degree in animal nutrition.

At a Glance

Understanding What Your Sheep Actually Need

Before you can budget feed, you need to understand the nutritional requirements of sheep. These requirements are not static. They change with the animal's weight, age, stage of production, and the weather. A mature ewe in early gestation has very different needs from the same ewe in late lactation with twins at her side.

Dry Matter Intake Basics

Dry matter intake, often abbreviated as DMI, is the amount of feed your sheep consume when all the water is removed. This is the standard way nutritionists measure feed intake because moisture content varies so much between feeds. Fresh pasture might be 80 percent water, while hay is typically 10 to 15 percent moisture.

A mature ewe will consume roughly 2.5 to 4 percent of her body weight in dry matter each day. The exact amount depends on the quality of the feed and her production stage. A 150-pound ewe eating good quality hay will consume about 3.75 to 6 pounds of dry matter per day. A ewe on poor quality straw might eat less because it digests more slowly and fills her rumen before she meets her energy needs.

For budgeting purposes, use 3.5 percent of body weight as your planning figure. This gives you a realistic middle ground. For a 150-pound ewe, that is 5.25 pounds of dry matter per day. If you are feeding hay at 90 percent dry matter, you would offer roughly 5.8 pounds of hay per ewe per day to meet that target.

Energy and Protein Requirements by Production Stage

Sheep need energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, and water. Energy is usually the limiting factor in a sheep diet, especially during late gestation and lactation. Protein matters most for young growing lambs and for ewes producing milk.

Maintenance: A mature ewe that is not pregnant, not lactating, and simply maintaining her body weight needs a diet with about 55 to 60 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) and 8 to 9 percent crude protein on a dry matter basis. Good quality grass hay often meets these needs without any grain supplement.

Early to mid gestation: For the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, the ewe's requirements are only slightly above maintenance. The fetus is small, and the ewe can meet her needs with quality forage alone. This is the time to let her gain a little condition if she was thin at breeding.

Late gestation: During the last 6 weeks before lambing, the fetus grows rapidly and can account for 70 percent of the lamb's birth weight. The ewe's energy requirements increase by 50 to 60 percent over maintenance. This is when most feeding mistakes happen. Underfeeding in late gestation leads to pregnancy toxemia, weak lambs, and poor milk production.

Lactation: A ewe nursing twins needs 80 to 100 percent more energy than a ewe at maintenance. She is producing 3 to 6 pounds of milk per day. Many small flock shepherds find that good pasture plus 1 to 2 pounds of grain per ewe per day is necessary to keep condition on the ewe during the first 6 to 8 weeks of lactation.

Growing lambs: Lambs destined for market or replacement need a diet with 14 to 16 percent protein and high energy density to grow efficiently. Creep feeding lambs before weaning and providing quality feed after weaning is almost always cost-effective.

The Weather Factor

Cold weather increases energy needs. When the wind chill drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, sheep burn extra energy just to stay warm. A wet fleece makes this much worse. For every 10 degrees below the lower critical temperature, which is about 32 degrees for a ewe with a dry fleece, energy requirements increase by roughly 10 to 15 percent.

This matters for budgeting because a cold snap during late gestation can push a ewe from adequate nutrition into an energy deficit very quickly. Always have a plan to increase feeding during cold weather events, even if it is just offering better quality hay.

Forage Quality: The Foundation of Your Feed Budget

The quality of your forage determines how much grain you need to buy. Two bales of hay can look identical and have wildly different nutritional value. Alfalfa hay cut early might test at 18 percent protein and 60 percent TDN. Mature grass hay cut late could test at 6 percent protein and 45 percent TDN. Feeding both to the same ewe would produce completely different results.

How to Assess Hay Quality Without a Lab

You can learn a lot about hay by looking, smelling, and feeling it. Good hay is green, which indicates it was cut early and cured quickly. Brown or yellow hay was either over-mature, rained on, or heat damaged. The hay should smell sweet and fresh, not musty or moldy. Leafiness matters. Leaves contain most of the protein and energy. Stems are mostly fiber. A bale with a high leaf-to-stem ratio is higher quality.

Feel the hay. It should be soft and pliable, not coarse and brittle. If the stems are thick and woody, the hay was cut too late. If the hay crumbles easily, it may have been over-cured and lost leaves during raking and baling.

Look at what is in the bale. A mix of grasses and legumes like clover or alfalfa is higher in protein and energy than straight grass hay. Weeds reduce quality and can sometimes be toxic. Avoid hay with mold, dust, or signs of rodent contamination.

Why You Should Test Your Hay

Visual inspection gives you a rough idea, but a forage test gives you numbers you can plan with. A standard forage analysis costs between 20 and 50 dollars at a commercial lab. For a small flock, testing one to two bales per cutting is enough. The test will tell you the dry matter percentage, crude protein, TDN or energy value, and key minerals.

This information lets you match your hay to your sheep's needs. If your hay tests at 8 percent protein, you know you will need to supplement with a higher protein feed during lactation. If it tests at 14 percent protein, you can rely on it more heavily and save money on grain.

Matching Forage Type to Animal Class

Not all sheep need the same quality hay. A dry ewe in maintenance can do very well on average grass hay. A lactating ewe or a growing lamb needs the best hay you have. Many small flock shepherds sort their hay and feed the lower quality bales to dry ewes early in gestation, saving the higher quality bales for late gestation and lactation.

If you have a choice, buy hay that matches your flock's needs. For a small flock, you have the advantage of being able to buy small quantities of high quality hay rather than being stuck with a semi-truck load of mediocre forage.

Calculating Your Feed Needs: A Step-by-Step Method

Now we get to the actual calculation. This is not complicated, but it requires you to be honest about your numbers. You need to know your flock size, their average weight, and the length of the feeding period.

Step 1: Determine Your Flock Inventory

Write down every animal you plan to feed. Count ewes, rams, lambs, and replacements separately. Be clear about how many ewes are pregnant and how many lambs they are expected to carry. A ewe with twins needs more feed than a ewe with a single lamb.

Include the ram in your budget. He is often forgotten. A mature ram needs maintenance rations for most of the year, but he should be in good condition before breeding season.

Step 2: Estimate Average Body Weight

You cannot budget feed without knowing what your sheep weigh. A livestock scale is the most accurate method, but many small flock shepherds do not have one. If you do not have a scale, you can use a weight tape designed for sheep. These tapes measure heart girth and estimate weight. They are reasonably accurate for adult sheep.

If you have neither a scale nor a weight tape, use breed averages as a starting point. A mature commercial ewe weighs between 140 and 180 pounds. A Suffolk or other large breed ewe might weigh 180 to 220 pounds. A Shetland or other small breed ewe might weigh 90 to 120 pounds. Be honest about your animals. If they look thin, they weigh less than the average. If they look fat, they weigh more.

Step 3: Calculate Daily Dry Matter Needs

For each animal class, multiply the average body weight by 0.035 (3.5 percent). This gives you the daily dry matter intake in pounds.

Example: A 150-pound ewe needs 150 x 0.035 = 5.25 pounds of dry matter per day.

For a flock of 20 ewes averaging 150 pounds, total daily dry matter needs are 20 x 5.25 = 105 pounds per day.

Step 4: Convert Dry Matter to As-Fed Hay

Hay is not 100 percent dry matter. Most hay is 88 to 92 percent dry matter. To convert dry matter to as-fed hay weight, divide the dry matter needs by the dry matter percentage of your hay.

Example: If your hay is 90 percent dry matter, then 5.25 pounds of dry matter equals 5.25 / 0.90 = 5.83 pounds of hay as fed.

For the flock of 20 ewes, you need 105 / 0.90 = 116.7 pounds of hay per day.

Step 5: Account for Waste

No feeding system is 100 percent efficient. Sheep waste hay by trampling it, soiling it, and refusing the coarse stems. Waste can range from 5 percent with careful feeding in a rack to 40 percent or more when hay is thrown on the ground.

For planning purposes, assume 15 to 20 percent waste. Multiply your daily hay needs by 1.15 to 1.20.

Example: 116.7 pounds per day x 1.15 = 134.2 pounds per day of hay you actually need to provide.

Step 6: Calculate for the Full Feeding Period

Decide how many days you will be feeding hay. This is the number of days when pasture is not available or not adequate. In many regions, this is 120 to 180 days. Some shepherds feed hay year-round as a supplement to pasture.

Multiply daily hay needs by the number of feeding days.

Example: 134.2 pounds per day x 150 days = 20,130 pounds of hay for the season. That is roughly 10 tons of hay for 20 ewes for 5 months.

Step 7: Calculate Grain and Supplement Needs

Hay alone may not meet the needs of late gestation and lactating ewes. Use the hay test results to determine if grain is needed. As a general rule, start feeding grain at 0.5 to 1 pound per ewe per day during the last 6 weeks of gestation. Increase to 1 to 2 pounds per day during early lactation for ewes nursing twins.

For a flock of 20 ewes, if you feed 1 pound of grain per ewe per day for 100 days (6 weeks before lambing plus 8 weeks after), you need 20 x 100 = 2,000 pounds of grain. Add 10 percent for waste and spillage, giving you 2,200 pounds.

A Practical Example Budget

Here is a complete example for a small flock of 15 ewes averaging 150 pounds, with a 150-day winter feeding period.

• Daily dry matter need per ewe: 150 x 0.035 = 5.25 pounds
• Flock daily dry matter need: 15 x 5.25 = 78.75 pounds
• As-fed hay at 90 percent dry matter: 78.75 / 0.90 = 87.5 pounds
• Add 20 percent waste: 87.5 x 1.20 = 105 pounds per day
• Total hay for 150 days: 105 x 150 = 15,750 pounds, or about 7.9 tons
• Grain for 100 days at 1 pound per ewe: 15 x 100 = 1,500 pounds, plus 10 percent waste = 1,650 pounds
• Mineral supplement: 1 ton of mineral will last a small flock well over a year

This budget assumes the hay is adequate quality for maintenance and early gestation. If your hay tests low in protein or energy, you will need to increase grain feeding or source better hay.

Seasonal Feed Planning: Matching Supply to Demand

Sheep production follows a seasonal cycle, and your feed budget should follow the same cycle. The goal is to have your highest quality feed available when your sheep need it most.

Late Summer and Fall: Breeding Season

At breeding, ewes should be in moderate to good body condition. This means a body condition score of 3 to 3.5 on a 1 to 5 scale. Thin ewes do not breed as well and are less likely to conceive. Overly fat ewes also have reduced fertility.

Your fall feeding program should focus on maintaining condition. If pasture is abundant, no supplement is needed. If pasture is short, provide good quality hay to keep ewes gaining slowly.

Early Winter: Early Gestation

During the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, the ewe's needs are barely above maintenance. This is the cheapest time to feed your flock. You can use lower quality hay or extend grazing on stockpiled pasture. The key is to prevent weight loss. Ewes should enter late gestation at a body condition score of 3.

Late Winter: Late Gestation

This is the most critical feeding period. The last 6 weeks before lambing determines lamb birth weight, ewe milk production, and the risk of pregnancy toxemia. Energy needs jump by 50 percent or more. This is when you transition to the best quality hay and introduce grain.

Feed grain gradually over a 2-week period to allow the rumen microbes to adjust. Start at 0.25 pound per ewe per day and increase to the full amount. A sudden change to grain can cause acidosis and other digestive upsets.

Lambing and Lactation

A ewe lambing in late winter or early spring will be on feed for 6 to 8 weeks after lambing. She needs maximum energy and protein to produce milk. Continue feeding the best hay and maintain grain feeding. Ewes with twins need more feed than ewes with singles. If you can, group ewes by the number of lambs they are nursing and feed accordingly.

Spring and Summer: Pasture Season

As pasture greens up, you can reduce or eliminate grain feeding. Make the transition gradually over 1 to 2 weeks to avoid digestive upset. Spring pasture is high in protein and moisture, which can cause loose stools and bloat in some flocks. Provide access to dry hay or a rumen buffer to help smooth the transition.

Summer: Maintenance and Weaning

After lambs are weaned, ewes can go back to a maintenance diet. This is the time to let them regain condition if they lost weight during lactation. Good pasture should be enough. Monitor body condition and supplement if ewes are not regaining condition.

Feeding Management: How You Feed Matters as Much as What You Feed

How you deliver feed affects waste, animal health, and your bottom line. Small flock shepherds can use a few simple techniques to cut waste dramatically.

Hay Feeding Options

Hay racks and feeders: A well-designed hay feeder can reduce waste from 40 percent to 10 percent or less. The key is to keep hay off the ground and prevent sheep from pulling out more than they can eat. A simple hay rack with vertical bars spaced 6 to 8 inches apart works well. Sheep can pull hay through the bars, but they cannot walk on it or soil it.

Hay nets: Small-holed hay nets, originally designed for horses, work well for small flocks. They slow consumption and reduce waste. A flock of 10 to 20 sheep can use a single large hay net. The downside is that filling and hanging nets takes time.

Ground feeding: This is the most wasteful method. Sheep trample and soil hay quickly. If you must feed on the ground, move the feeding area regularly and only put out enough hay for a few hours at a time. Use a portable feeder or feed in a different spot each day to spread manure and reduce parasite buildup.

Grain Feeding

Feed grain in troughs or pans, not on the ground. Sheep will waste grain on the ground and it attracts rodents and birds. A simple trough with enough space for all ewes to eat at once prevents bossy ewes from hogging the feed and thin ewes from missing out.

Provide 18 to 24 inches of trough space per adult ewe. If you cannot provide enough space, feed in two groups or feed in multiple rounds.

Mineral and Salt

Free-choice mineral is essential. Sheep need salt, calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals. Use a mineral formulated specifically for sheep. Do not use cattle mineral, as it often contains copper levels that are toxic to sheep.

Provide mineral in a covered feeder to keep it dry. Check it weekly and refill as needed. A ewe consumes about 0.25 to 0.5 ounce of mineral per day. A 50-pound bag of sheep mineral will last a small flock of 20 ewes about 2 to 3 months.

Water

Sheep need clean, fresh water at all times. A ewe drinks 1 to 3 gallons per day, more when lactating or in hot weather. In winter, heated water buckets or tank heaters prevent ice and encourage drinking. Sheep that do not drink enough eat less and are more prone to urinary calculi, especially wethers on grain diets.

The Economics of Feed: Cost per Pound of Nutrient

When you buy feed, you are not buying pounds of feed. You are buying pounds of protein, energy, and minerals. Comparing feeds on a cost per pound of nutrient basis helps you make better buying decisions.

Calculating Cost per Pound of Protein

To compare two protein supplements, divide the cost per ton by the percentage of protein.

Example: Feed A costs 400 dollars per ton and has 16 percent protein. Feed B costs 550 dollars per ton and has 40 percent protein.

Feed A: 400 / (2,000 x 0.16) = 400 / 320 = 1.25 dollars per pound of protein Feed B: 550 / (2,000 x 0.40) = 550 / 800 = 0.69 dollars per pound of protein

Even though Feed B costs more per ton, it is cheaper per pound of protein. This kind of calculation helps you decide whether to buy a protein supplement or rely on higher quality hay.

Comparing Hay Prices

Hay is sold by the bale, by the ton, or by the bale with an estimated weight. Always convert to cost per ton for comparison. A 60-pound bale at 8 dollars costs 267 dollars per ton. A 75-pound bale at 10 dollars costs the same 267 dollars per ton. A 50-pound bale at 9 dollars costs 360 dollars per ton.

Do not assume a bigger bale is a better deal. Weigh a few bales on a bathroom scale to get an accurate average weight.

Where to Save Money

The biggest savings come from reducing waste and buying feed at the right time. Hay prices follow a predictable seasonal pattern in most regions. Prices are lowest in late summer and early fall, right after the first cutting. Prices rise through winter and peak in late winter or early spring.

Buying hay in August or September for winter use can save 20 to 30 percent compared to buying in January. The challenge is having storage space and cash available. If you can buy a few months of hay at a time, you will save money.

Where Not to Save Money

Do not skimp on late gestation feeding to save money. The cost of a ewe with pregnancy toxemia is far higher than the cost of feeding her properly. A veterinary visit for a sick ewe costs more than a month of grain for that ewe. Weak lambs that need bottle feeding cost time and money. The cheapest strategy is to feed correctly through late gestation and lactation.

Body Condition Scoring: Your Best Monitoring Tool

Body condition scoring is a hands-on method of assessing fat cover on a sheep. It is simple, free, and more accurate than looking at a sheep from a distance. A ewe can look fine in full fleece and be dangerously thin underneath.

How to Score

The scale runs from 1 to 5. A score of 1 is emaciated, 5 is obese. Most shepherds target a score of 3 for most of the year.

To score a sheep, place one hand on the backbone and the other on the loin area, just behind the last rib. Feel for the spinous processes, which are the vertical projections of the backbone, and the transverse processes, which are the horizontal projections.

Score 1: The spinous processes are sharp and prominent. You can easily feel individual bones. There is no fat cover.

Score 2: The spinous processes are still prominent but feel slightly rounded. You can feel the transverse processes with moderate pressure.

Score 3: The spinous processes feel smooth and rounded. You can feel the transverse processes only with firm pressure. There is a moderate fat cover.

Score 4: The spinous processes are only felt with firm pressure. You cannot feel the transverse processes. There is a thick fat cover.

Score 5: The spinous processes cannot be felt. There is a heavy fat deposit. The loin area feels smooth and doughy.

When to Score

Score each ewe at key points in the production cycle:

• At breeding: ewes should be 3 to 3.5
• At shearing or early gestation: ewes should be 3
• At lambing: ewes should be 3 to 3.5
• At weaning: ewes should be at least 2.5

Write down the scores for each ewe. This lets you track changes over time and identify problem animals. A ewe that is losing condition despite adequate feed may have a health problem, bad teeth, or a parasite load.

Adjusting Feed Based on Scores

If ewes are below target condition, increase feed. Add grain to the ration or provide better quality hay. If ewes are above target, reduce feeding. Overly fat ewes have more lambing difficulties and are more prone to pregnancy toxemia.

Make adjustments gradually. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to change body condition by one full score. A ewe that is a 2 at breeding can be brought to a 3 by lambing with consistent feeding.

Common Feed Budgeting Mistakes

Every shepherd makes mistakes. The key is to catch them before they cost you money or animals. Here are the most common feed budgeting errors for small flocks.

Mistake 1: Guessing Hay Weight

Many shepherds estimate bale weights without actually weighing them. A small square bale might weigh 40 pounds or 70 pounds depending on how tightly it was baled and the moisture content. If you underestimate bale weight, you will run out of hay earlier than planned. If you overestimate, you will buy too much.

Weigh every bale you buy, or at least weigh 10 percent of the bales to get an average. A simple bathroom scale works for small square bales. For round bales, you may need a truck scale or a loader with a weigh system.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Hay Quality

Two bales of hay can look similar and have completely different nutritional value. Feeding poor quality hay without testing means you may be underfeeding protein and energy even if you are providing enough pounds of feed. Sheep on poor hay will lose condition, and you will not know why until the damage is done.

Spend the 30 to 50 dollars on a forage test. It is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your flock.

Mistake 3: Feeding All Sheep the Same Ration

A ewe with a single lamb needs less feed than a ewe with twins. A thin ewe needs more feed than a fat ewe. A ram in breeding season needs more feed than a ram in the off season. Grouping sheep by needs saves money and improves animal health.

If you cannot group sheep, feed to the most demanding animal and accept that some sheep will get more than they need. This is more expensive but simpler.

Mistake 4: Not Adjusting for Cold Weather

A sudden cold snap can increase energy needs by 20 percent or more. If you do not increase feeding during cold weather, ewes will lose condition. This is especially dangerous in late gestation. Always have extra hay on hand for cold weather events.

Mistake 5: Forgetting the Ram

The ram is often left out of feed budgets. A mature ram needs 4 to 5 pounds of hay per day in winter. Over the course of a 150-day feeding period, that is 600 to 750 pounds of hay. Forgetting the ram means your hay supply will run short.

Mistake 6: Underestimating Waste

New shepherds often plan for 5 percent waste when the real number is 20 percent or more. Ground feeding, poor feeders, and overfeeding all increase waste. Measure your actual waste by weighing what you put out and what is left after feeding. Adjust your budget accordingly.

Mistake 7: Buying Feed at the Wrong Time

Buying hay in the middle of winter when supplies are low and prices are high is the most expensive way to feed sheep. Plan ahead and buy when prices are lowest. This requires storage space and cash flow, but the savings are substantial.

Monitoring Your Feed Budget: Recordkeeping That Works

A feed budget is not a one-time calculation. It is a living document that you track through the year. Good records help you make adjustments before problems develop and help you plan for the next year.

What to Track

Keep a simple notebook or spreadsheet with the following information:

• Flock inventory by month, including births and deaths
• Average body weight of each animal class
• Body condition scores for each ewe at key points
• Pounds of hay fed per day or per week
• Pounds of grain fed per day or per week
• Hay quality test results
• Feed costs per ton and per bale
• Number of days of hay remaining

This sounds like a lot, but it takes 5 minutes per week. The information is invaluable when you need to decide whether to buy more hay or adjust feeding.

How to Track Hay Inventory

Count your hay bales weekly during the feeding season. Mark each bale with a dot or a number as you use it. Keep a running tally of bales used and bales remaining. Divide the remaining bales by the weekly usage to calculate how many weeks of hay you have left.

Example: You have 40 bales remaining and you are using 10 bales per week. You have 4 weeks of hay left. If you expect 6 more weeks of winter, you need to buy 20 more bales.

When to Adjust the Budget

Review your budget monthly and whenever conditions change. Adjust for:

• Cold weather events
• Early or late lambing
• More or fewer lambs than expected
• Changes in hay quality between bales
• Illness or death losses
• Changes in pasture availability

A flexible budget is a useful budget. The goal is not to hit your numbers exactly. The goal is to feed your sheep adequately without wasting money.

When to Call a Veterinarian or Extension Agent

Most feed budgeting problems are solved with calculations and management changes. But some situations require professional help. Do not hesitate to call for assistance when you see these warning signs.

Signs That Your Feeding Program Is Failing

Call a veterinarian if you see any of these conditions:

• Ewes that are down and cannot get up, which can indicate pregnancy toxemia or hypocalcemia
• Lambs that are weak or dying shortly after birth
• Ewes that are losing condition rapidly despite adequate feed
• Multiple ewes with the same symptoms, which may indicate a nutritional deficiency or toxic feed
• Bloat or digestive upset after a feed change
• Evidence of urinary calculi, especially in wethers, such as straining to urinate

An extension agent or agricultural advisor can help with feed budgeting, hay testing interpretation, and ration formulation. Many extension offices offer forage testing services and can help you interpret the results. They can also provide local information on hay prices and availability.

When to Test for Parasites

Internal parasites are a major cause of poor condition in sheep. If your ewes are losing condition despite good feed, parasites may be the cause. The American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control recommends using the FAMACHA system to check for anemia caused by barber pole worms. This system matches the color of the lower eyelid to a chart. Pale eyelids indicate anemia and the need for deworming or management changes.

Fecal egg counts are another tool. Your veterinarian or a diagnostic lab can count parasite eggs in a manure sample. This tells you which sheep are carrying heavy parasite loads and whether deworming is needed. Routine deworming without testing is discouraged because it promotes drug-resistant parasites.

Feed Toxicity Emergencies

Some feeds are toxic to sheep. Moldy hay can cause listeriosis, a bacterial infection that affects the nervous system. Certain weeds in hay can be toxic. If you suspect feed toxicity, remove the suspect feed immediately and call your veterinarian.

Signs of feed toxicity include:

• Sudden death
• Tremors or incoordination
• Difficulty breathing
• Abortion storms
• Refusal to eat

Do not feed hay that smells musty, contains mold, or includes unknown weeds. When in doubt, have it tested or discard it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much hay does a sheep eat per day?

A mature ewe eats 2.5 to 4 percent of her body weight in dry matter per day. For a 150-pound ewe, that is roughly 4 to 6 pounds of dry matter, which translates to about 5 to 7 pounds of hay as fed. A good planning figure is 3.5 percent of body weight. A 150-pound ewe needs about 5.25 pounds of dry matter or 5.8 pounds of hay at 90 percent dry matter. Over a 150-day winter, one ewe will consume about 870 pounds of hay, or roughly 15 small square bales at 60 pounds each.

How do I calculate a feed budget for my small flock?

Start with the average weight of your sheep. Multiply by 0.035 to get daily dry matter needs. Multiply by the number of sheep to get flock needs. Convert to as-fed hay by dividing by the dry matter percentage of your hay. Add 15 to 20 percent for waste. Multiply by the number of feeding days. For grain, estimate 0.5 to 1 pound per ewe per day in late gestation and 1 to 2 pounds per day in early lactation. Add 10 percent for waste. A flock of 15 ewes averaging 150 pounds needs about 8 tons of hay for a 150-day winter.

What is the cheapest way to feed sheep?

The cheapest way to feed sheep is to maximize grazing and buy hay when prices are lowest. Use stockpiled pasture in fall and early winter. Feed hay in racks or nets to minimize waste. Test your hay so you know what supplements are actually needed. Buy hay in late summer or early fall when prices are lowest. Compare feed costs on a cost per pound of protein and energy basis. Avoid buying feed in mid-winter when prices are highest.

Do I need to feed grain to my sheep?

Most mature ewes do not need grain during maintenance and early gestation if they have good quality hay or pasture. Grain becomes important in late gestation and early lactation when energy needs increase sharply. Ewes carrying twins or triplets almost always need grain. Growing lambs benefit from grain or a high quality creep feed. A forage test will tell you if your hay meets the energy and protein needs of your flock. If it does, you can skip grain for dry ewes and save money.

How do I know if my sheep are getting enough to eat?

Body condition scoring is the most reliable method. Score each ewe monthly and track changes. A ewe at a body condition score of 3 is in good condition. If scores are dropping, increase feed. Also watch for signs of hunger such as vocalizing, pacing fences, and eating bedding or other non-feed materials. Weigh feed amounts and compare to your budget. If you are feeding the calculated amount and sheep are still losing condition, the hay quality may be lower than expected or parasites may be a problem.

What is the best hay for sheep?

The best hay for sheep depends on their production stage. Mixed grass-legume hay with 10 to 14 percent protein and 55 to 60 percent TDN is ideal for most adult sheep. Alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calcium and works well for lactating ewes and growing lambs, but it is more expensive. Mature grass hay with 6 to 8 percent protein is adequate for dry ewes in maintenance but not for late gestation or lactation. Have your hay tested and match quality to animal needs.

How do I store hay to prevent waste?

Store hay under cover in a dry, well-ventilated barn or shed. Keep bales off the ground on pallets or tires to prevent moisture wicking from the soil. Leave space between bales and the walls for air circulation. Cover outdoor stacks with a tarp, but allow for ventilation to prevent condensation. Store grain in metal or plastic bins with tight-fitting lids to keep out rodents and moisture. Check stored feed regularly for signs of mold, rodents, or insect damage.

When should I buy hay for winter?

Buy hay in late summer or early fall, right after the first cutting, when prices are typically lowest. Hay prices rise through winter as supplies dwindle. Buying 2 to 4 months of hay at a time can save 20 to 30 percent compared to buying weekly or monthly. If you have storage space and cash available, buying a full season of hay in one purchase is the most economical strategy. Coordinate with a local hay grower to reserve quality hay early.

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Related Clinical & Scientific Guides

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• Sheep Breed Selection for Meat, Wool, Dairy, and Low-Input Systems
• Sheep Barn Flooring for Hoof Health: Best Materials and Practices

References

• American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC): https://www.wormx.info/
• USDA APHIS Sheep Health: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/sheep-goats
• FAO Sheep and Goat Production: https://www.fao.org/animal-production/en/
• FAO Animal Production and Health: https://www.fao.org/animal-production/en/
• WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health): https://www.woah.org/en/home/

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis, treatment, public-health guidance, or regulatory reporting.