Sheep Hay Quality: How to Assess and Select Forage

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

Key Takeaways

• Nutritional requirements vary significantly by production stage: Ewes in late gestation require 12-14% crude protein (CP) and high energy, while dry ewes in maintenance need only 7-9% CP and low energy. Lactating ewes and growing lambs demand 14-16% CP and very high energy.
• Visual and tactile assessment provides initial quality indicators: Look for bright green color, high leaf retention (especially in legumes), fine and flexible stems indicating early cutting, and a sweet, pleasant smell. Reject hay with mold, dust, weeds, or foreign objects, which can cause respiratory issues, digestive upsets, and toxicity.
• Laboratory analysis is crucial for precise nutritional evaluation: A forage test quantifies dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and mineral content. This data allows for accurate ration balancing and cost-effective purchasing, far outweighing the cost of the test itself.
• Plant species and maturity at cutting dictate nutritional profiles: Alfalfa hay offers high protein and calcium, ideal for high-demand periods, but can be too rich for maintenance. Grass hay provides adequate fiber and moderate protein, suitable for maintenance and early gestation, and is often more economical. Mixed hay offers a balance, but quality varies with legume proportion.
• Harvesting and storage conditions critically impact hay quality: Rain damage leaches nutrients, while baling hay too wet leads to heating, mold, and nutrient loss. Baling too dry causes leaf shatter, significantly reducing protein content. Proper moisture content (15-18% for small bales, 12-15% for large bales) is essential for preserving quality.

Hay is the backbone of most sheep operations through winter months and dry seasons. The difference between a flock that thrives and one that struggles often comes down to what is in the hay pile. This guide covers how to assess sheep hay quality by sight, touch, and laboratory analysis, how to match forage type to your flock's needs, and how to build a hay purchasing system that protects animal health and your budget. It is written for commercial sheep producers, small flock owners, and anyone who buys hay for breeding, growing, or maintenance rations.

At a Glance

• Know your flock's needs first. Ewes in late pregnancy need 12 to 14 percent crude protein, while dry ewes in maintenance may need only 7 to 9 percent.
• Test before you buy, or at least before you feed. A forage analysis costs far less than a poor lambing season or a veterinary call.
• Alfalfa hay for sheep offers high protein and calcium, ideal for lactating ewes and growing lambs, but it can be too rich for dry ewes.
• Grass hay for sheep provides adequate fiber and moderate protein, suitable for maintenance and early pregnancy, and it is often cheaper per ton.
• Look for leaf retention, color, and softness. Leaves carry most of the nutrition in legumes, and soft stems indicate early cutting.
• Reject hay with mold, dust, weeds, or foreign objects. These cause respiratory issues, digestive upsets, and potential toxicity.
• Match hay quality to production stage. One uniform hay type rarely fits all classes of sheep on a farm.
• Store hay properly. Even excellent hay loses quality quickly when exposed to weather or poor drainage.

Why Hay Quality Matters for Sheep

Sheep are ruminants with a digestive system built for fibrous forage. Their rumen microbes break down cellulose and hemicellulose into volatile fatty acids that supply energy. The quality of that forage drives everything from wool growth to embryo survival. Poor hay quality does not just mean slower weight gain. It means lower conception rates, lighter birth weights, weaker lambs at birth, reduced milk production, and higher susceptibility to parasites and disease.

Hay quality is a function of three things: the plant species in the field, the stage of maturity at cutting, and the conditions during harvest and storage. You can change none of these after the bale is made, but you can learn to read the signs of each. A hay grower who cuts alfalfa at early bloom produces a feed that is fundamentally different from the same field cut at full bloom two weeks later. The same field baled with rain damage or excessive leaf shatter produces a third product entirely.

Sheep have some advantages over cattle when it comes to using lower quality forage. They are selective eaters, they have smaller mouths, and they can sort through coarse material to find the more nutritious leaf fractions. But this selectivity has a downside. Sheep that waste the coarse stems of poor hay may consume more than expected of the fine leaves, which can upset the balance of their ration. And when hay is so coarse that sheep cannot prehend it effectively, they lose body condition even while feed is in front of them.

The practical goal is to buy hay that matches the nutritional demands of the sheep that will eat it. A ewe flock in mid-gestation has modest needs. The same flock in the last six weeks before lambing has the highest nutritional demands of the annual cycle. One hay type cannot serve both periods efficiently. You either feed different hays at different times, or you supplement a base hay with grain, protein meals, or minerals to close the gap.

Understanding Sheep Nutritional Requirements Across Production Stages

Before you can assess hay quality, you need a clear picture of what your sheep need. Nutrient requirements vary dramatically by age, weight, production stage, and environmental conditions. A 150-pound ewe in early gestation needs roughly 3.5 to 4 pounds of dry matter per day with about 8 to 9 percent crude protein. The same ewe in the last four weeks of pregnancy, carrying twins, needs closer to 4.5 to 5 pounds of dry matter with 12 to 14 percent crude protein. Lactating ewes with lambs at side may need 14 to 16 percent protein and significantly more energy.

The table below shows general guidelines for mature ewes of average body weight. These are approximate values. Your specific flock, breed, and conditions will shift the numbers.

Body condition scoring is your practical tool for checking whether the hay you feed is meeting needs. Score ewes on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 being emaciated and 5 being obese. A ewe in late pregnancy should carry a condition score of 3 to 3.5. If you see ewes dropping below that, the hay quality or the amount offered is insufficient. If they are gaining excessive condition, you are overfeeding quality relative to their needs, which wastes money.

Cold stress changes requirements too. Sheep in wet, windy, cold weather burn substantially more energy to stay warm. A ewe that would maintain condition on moderate quality hay in mild weather will lose weight on the same hay during a January cold snap. You need to either feed better hay, feed more of it, or provide additional energy through grain or other supplements during these periods.

The Plant Factors That Determine Hay Quality

Species and Botanical Composition

Hay comes from two broad categories of plants: grasses and legumes. Grasses include timothy, orchardgrass, fescue, bromegrass, and ryegrass. Legumes include alfalfa, clovers, and birdsfoot trefoil. Each category has distinct nutritional profiles, and each has a place in a sheep feeding program.

Grass hay is generally lower in protein and calcium than legume hay. A well managed grass hay cut at the right stage runs 8 to 12 percent crude protein on a dry matter basis. It is higher in fiber, which supports rumen function and helps prevent digestive disturbances. Grass hay is often the right choice for dry ewes, rams in the off season, and ewes in early to mid gestation. It is cheaper per ton than alfalfa in most regions, and it carries a lower risk of overconditioning sheep that do not need high energy.

Legume hay, especially alfalfa, is the high protein, high calcium option. Prime alfalfa hay runs 15 to 20 percent crude protein. It is more digestible, meaning sheep get more energy from each pound consumed. Alfalfa is the standard choice for lactating ewes, rapidly growing lambs, and ewes in late gestation. The calcium content supports milk production, and the dense nutrient profile supports rapid weight gain.

Mixed hay contains both grasses and legumes. The quality depends on the proportion of each and the stage of maturity. A 50-50 grass-legume mix cut early can be an excellent all purpose hay for many flocks. The legume fraction boosts protein, while the grass fraction provides fiber and bulk. Mixed hay often represents the best value for producers who want one hay to feed through most of the year.

Stage of Maturity at Cutting

Stage of maturity is the single most important factor determining hay quality. Plants change rapidly as they move from vegetative growth to flowering to seed set. As plants mature, stem fiber increases, lignin content rises, and digestibility falls. Protein concentration drops because the plant is building structural material rather than leafy protein.

For alfalfa, the ideal cutting stage is early bloom, when about 10 percent of the stems show flowers. At this stage, the plant has maximum leaf mass and digestibility while still having enough growth to produce good yield. Cutting at full bloom or later produces hay that is stemmy, coarse, and significantly lower in protein and energy.

For cool season grasses like timothy and orchardgrass, the ideal stage is early heading, just as the seed head begins to emerge. Grasses cut at this stage are leafy, palatable, and digestible. Wait too long and the stems become tough, the leaves become less digestible, and the protein drops.

You can assess maturity by looking at the hay itself. Fine, soft stems that bend easily indicate early cutting. Thick, woody stems that snap or splinter indicate mature or over mature plants. The presence of seed heads in grass hay tells you the grass was past the ideal stage. In alfalfa, look for the proportion of stems with flowers or seed pods. Heavy seed pod development means late cutting.

Harvest and Curing Conditions

The weather during cutting and curing affects hay quality as much as the plants themselves. Hay that is rained on after cutting loses soluble carbohydrates and some protein. Rain leaches nutrients out of the leaves, and the longer the hay stays wet, the greater the loss. Severe rain damage can reduce protein by 20 to 30 percent and energy by a similar margin.

Hay that is baled too wet can heat in the bale. This heating, called spontaneous heating, burns up digestible nutrients and can produce a dark, sweet smelling, caramelized hay that is lower in protein than it appears. In extreme cases, wet hay can mold or even catch fire. Hay that is baled too dry loses leaves. The leaves of alfalfa shatter and fall off when the hay is excessively dry, and since leaves carry most of the protein, leaf loss directly reduces quality.

The ideal moisture for baling is 15 to 18 percent for small square bales and 12 to 15 percent for large round bales. Hay baled at these moistures retains leaves, resists heating, and stores well. A good hay grower manages these details carefully. When you buy hay, you are buying the result of their management decisions.

How to Assess Hay Quality by Inspection

You can learn a great deal about a load of hay before you ever send a sample to a laboratory. Train yourself to look at, touch, and smell every hay purchase. The inspection process takes minutes but can save you from feeding a poor product for months.

Visual Inspection

Start with color. Good hay should be green, though the shade varies by species and curing conditions. Bright green indicates that the hay was cut at the right stage and cured without excessive weather damage. A yellow or brown color suggests that the hay was over mature, rained on, or heated during storage. Dull, bleached hay has lost nutrients to sunlight and weather.

Look at leaf content. For legumes, leaves are where the protein lives. A bale of alfalfa that is mostly stems with few leaves is low quality regardless of its color. Break open a bale and look at the interior, not just the outside. The outer layer of a bale can be bleached and weathered while the interior is fine. Check several bales from different parts of the load.

Examine stem texture. Bend a stem between your fingers. A fine, flexible stem indicates early maturity. A stiff, woody stem that resists bending indicates late cutting. Stems that are hollow or pithy are over mature. For grass hay, check the seed heads. If most seed heads are intact and mature, the grass was cut late. If the seed heads are small and immature, the cutting was timely.

Check for weeds. Some weeds are merely undesirable, reducing palatability and nutritional value. Others are toxic to sheep. Look for foxtail, which has barbed seed heads that can penetrate the mouth and throat tissues of sheep. Look for nightshade, hemlock, and other poisonous plants. A hay field with a significant weed population produces hay that is risky to feed.

Tactile Assessment

Feel the hay for softness and flexibility. Good hay should feel soft and pliable, not harsh or prickly. Crush a handful and listen. Crisp, rustling hay that feels dry and brittle has lost leaf material. Hay that feels slightly supple and bends without shattering has retained its leaves.

Check for dust. Shake a handful of hay and watch the particles that fall. A small amount of fine dust is normal. A cloud of dust indicates that the hay was over dried, shattered, or stored in poor conditions. Dusty hay can cause respiratory problems in sheep, especially when fed in confined spaces.

Feel for moisture. Hay that feels damp or cool to the touch was baled too wet. This hay is at risk for mold growth and spontaneous heating. It may also be unpalatable to sheep. If you find damp hay in the middle of a bale, reject the entire load.

Smell and Mold Detection

Good hay smells sweet and pleasant, like dried grass or fresh cut hay. A musty, sour, or moldy odor indicates that the hay was baled wet or stored improperly. Hay with a tobacco-like or burnt sugar smell has heated during storage, which reduces digestibility and protein availability.

Look for mold in the bale interior. White, gray, or black powdery patches indicate mold growth. Some molds in hay produce mycotoxins that can cause reproductive problems, immune suppression, and digestive upsets in sheep. Pregnant ewes are particularly vulnerable. If you see mold, do not feed the affected bales to sheep.

Foreign Material

Check for foreign objects that can injure sheep or contaminate the feed. Wire, twine, and net wrap from previous bales can end up in new bales. Plastic fragments are dangerous if ingested. Look for rocks, dirt clods, and rodent carcasses. Any of these warrant rejection of the load or at least careful sorting before feeding.

Bale Density and Weight

Pick up a small square bale to assess its weight. A dense, heavy bale of the same size as a light, fluffy one contains more dry matter. Hay that feels light for its size has lost leaves or was baled at very low moisture. For large round bales, check the density by pressing on the surface. A firm, dense bale is preferable to a soft, spongy one.

Laboratory Hay Analysis for Sheep

Visual inspection tells you about the condition and maturity of hay, but it cannot tell you the actual nutrient content. To know precisely what you are feeding, you need a laboratory analysis. Forage testing is inexpensive relative to the cost of the hay and the consequences of feeding an imbalanced ration. A standard hay test costs between 15 and 40 dollars and gives you the information you need to balance rations, plan supplementation, and make informed purchasing decisions.

How to Sample Hay Correctly

Sampling is only as good as the technique. A poor sample gives misleading results, and misleading results are worse than no results because they lead to incorrect feeding decisions.

For small square bales, use a hay probe attached to a drill. Sample at least 10 to 15 bales from the lot you plan to buy or feed. Probe from the end of each bale, pushing the probe through the full length of the bale. Collect cores from each bale in a clean bucket, mix them thoroughly, and place the composite sample in a labeled plastic bag.

For large round bales, sample at least 10 bales from the lot. Probe from the curved side of the bale, perpendicular to the surface, at a slight upward angle to avoid sampling the wet bottom layer. Take two cores from each bale, one from the outer edge and one from the center, and combine them.

For stacked square bales, sample from the ends of bales at different depths in the stack. This captures variation within the stack. Avoid sampling only the surface of bales, which is weathered and unrepresentative of the whole.

Label each sample clearly with the hay type, field, cutting, and date. Keep a record of which sample corresponds to which lot of hay. If you test multiple lots, keep the results organized so you can match each test to the correct hay.

Key Tests to Request

The standard forage analysis package for sheep includes the following tests:

Dry matter (DM). This tells you how much water is in the hay. Hay that is 90 percent dry matter contains 10 percent water. Sheep need to consume enough dry matter to meet their nutrient requirements, so knowing the dry matter content helps you calculate how much hay to feed.

Crude protein (CP). This is the total protein content of the hay. For sheep, you generally want CP in the range of 8 to 16 percent depending on production stage. Crude protein is reported on a dry matter basis, meaning it reflects the protein in the hay after removing water.

Acid detergent fiber (ADF). ADF measures the cellulose and lignin in the hay. Lower ADF values indicate higher digestibility and more available energy. Good quality hay has ADF below 35 percent. Poor quality hay has ADF above 40 percent.

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF). NDF measures the total fiber content, including hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. It relates to how much hay a sheep can eat. Higher NDF means the hay is bulkier and sheep fill up before meeting their energy needs. Good quality hay has NDF below 55 percent.

Relative feed value (RFV). RFV is a calculated index that combines digestibility and intake potential. It is primarily used for alfalfa and legume hays. Values above 150 indicate premium hay, 125 to 150 is good, 100 to 125 is fair, and below 100 is poor.

Minerals. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium are the most important minerals to test. Calcium and phosphorus must be balanced for proper bone development and to prevent urinary calculi in wethers and rams. A calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2 to 1 is generally appropriate for sheep.

Moisture. Moisture content is critical for storage decisions. Hay above 18 percent moisture is at risk for mold and heating.

Some laboratories offer additional tests for digestible energy, non structural carbohydrates, and specific minerals. These are useful for fine tuning rations but are not necessary for most sheep operations.

Interpreting the Results

Your hay test report will list each nutrient with a value and often a quality rating. Use these values to compare the hay to your flock's requirements. A hay with 14 percent crude protein and 30 percent ADF is excellent for lactating ewes. The same hay fed to dry ewes in maintenance could cause excessive weight gain.

The table below shows general quality categories for alfalfa and grass hay.

These numbers are for legumes. Grass hay runs lower in protein and higher in fiber at the same quality grade. A good grass hay may test 10 to 12 percent protein with an RFV of 100 to 120, and that is an excellent feed for many sheep.

Alfalfa Hay for Sheep

Alfalfa is the gold standard for high production sheep. No other commonly available forage matches its combination of protein, energy, calcium, and palatability. For lactating ewes, alfalfa hay supports milk production that drives lamb growth. For growing lambs, alfalfa provides the protein and energy needed for rapid, efficient gains.

The best alfalfa hay for sheep is cut at early bloom, has high leaf retention, and is a bright green color. Leaf to stem ratio is the key indicator. Leaves contain about 70 percent of the protein in alfalfa. A bale that is heavy with leaves is nutritionally superior to a stemmy bale of the same weight.

Alfalfa hay for sheep typically tests 15 to 20 percent crude protein, 28 to 35 percent ADF, and has an RFV of 120 to 160. The calcium content runs 1.2 to 1.5 percent, which is important for milk production but requires attention to phosphorus balance. Alfalfa is low in phosphorus relative to calcium, so sheep on heavy alfalfa rations need phosphorus supplementation to maintain the proper calcium to phosphorus ratio.

The main risk with alfalfa is overconditioning sheep that do not need the nutrient density. Dry ewes and rams in the off season can become fat on free choice alfalfa, and fat sheep have more lambing difficulties, more pregnancy toxemia, and reduced fertility. Feed alfalfa selectively to the classes of sheep that need it.

Alfalfa can also cause bloat in sheep, though less commonly than in cattle. Bloat risk is highest when sheep are turned onto lush alfalfa pasture, but it can also occur with fine, leafy alfalfa hay. Introduce alfalfa gradually over 7 to 10 days if sheep have been on grass hay. Provide coarse stemmy feed alongside the alfalfa to encourage normal rumen function.

Grass Hay for Sheep

Grass hay is the workhorse forage for many sheep operations. It is generally cheaper than alfalfa, easier to grow in many regions, and adequate for the majority of the year when sheep are in maintenance or early gestation. Timothy, orchardgrass, and brome hay are all excellent choices.

Good grass hay tests 8 to 12 percent crude protein, 32 to 38 percent ADF, and 55 to 65 percent NDF. The energy content is lower than alfalfa, so sheep must eat more grass hay by weight to meet their needs. This is fine for maintenance and early gestation, when sheep naturally regulate intake to match lower requirements.

The palatability of grass hay varies by species. Timothy is highly palatable and is the classic horse hay, but it is also excellent for sheep. Orchardgrass is palatable and productive, though it can become coarse if cut late. Fescue is widely grown but has palatability issues, especially if infected with the endophyte fungus. Endophyte infected fescue hay can cause reduced weight gains, poor milk production, and elevated body temperatures in sheep. If you buy fescue hay, ask whether it is endophyte free or endophyte friendly varieties.

Grass hay is the safer choice for sheep prone to urinary calculi. The calcium to phosphorus ratio is more favorable, and the lower calcium content reduces stone formation risk. For wethers and rams on high concentrate diets, grass hay is the preferred forage.

The main limitation of grass hay is that it cannot support late gestation, lactation, or rapid lamb growth without supplementation. Ewes in late pregnancy on grass hay alone often lose condition and produce small, weak lambs. You can close this gap with grain, protein supplements, or by feeding a legume hay during these critical periods.

Mixed Grass Legume Hay

Mixed hay combines the strengths of both plant types. A well made mixed hay with 30 to 50 percent legume content provides 12 to 15 percent crude protein, moderate fiber, and good palatability. It is often the most versatile hay for a flock with varied needs.

The quality of mixed hay depends on the proportion of legume to grass and the maturity of both. A field cut when the alfalfa is at early bloom and the grass is at early heading produces excellent mixed hay. If the field is cut late to maximize yield, both components become over mature and quality drops.

When buying mixed hay, ask the grower about the botanical composition. Some fields are predominantly grass with a small legume component. Others are predominantly legume with some grass. The protein and energy content will follow the legume proportion. A mixed hay with 20 percent alfalfa is closer to grass hay nutritionally, while a mix with 70 percent alfalfa approaches pure alfalfa quality.

Mixed hay is a good choice for ewes in mid gestation, growing lambs on a limited budget, and operations that want one hay for most of the year. Keep a higher quality hay or supplements on hand for the last six weeks of gestation and early lactation.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Sheep Hay

Buying on Price Alone

The cheapest hay per bale is rarely the cheapest per pound of nutrient. A low quality hay that tests 8 percent protein may cost 30 percent less than a good hay testing 14 percent protein, but you will need to feed more of it and supplement to meet your flock's needs. Calculate the cost per pound of protein and per megacalorie of energy to compare hays fairly.

Ignoring the Flock's Production Stage

Feeding the same hay year round ignores the dramatic changes in nutritional needs across the production cycle. A ewe flock that receives excellent alfalfa all year becomes overconditioned in the dry period and may develop metabolic problems. A flock that receives only grass hay through late gestation and lactation produces poor lambs and has higher ewe mortality. Match hay quality to the stage of production.

Failing to Test Hay

Many producers rely on appearance alone to judge hay quality. Visual inspection is useful, but it cannot quantify protein, fiber, or mineral content. A hay that looks good can still be deficient in protein or imbalanced in minerals. Test every lot of hay you purchase, especially if you are feeding breeding stock or growing lambs.

Overlooking Mold and Dust

Moldy hay can cause a range of health problems in sheep, including respiratory disease, digestive upsets, and reproductive failure. Some molds produce toxins that suppress the immune system and make sheep more susceptible to other diseases. Dusty hay causes similar respiratory issues. Reject any hay with visible mold, a musty odor, or excessive dust.

Feeding Hay That Is Too Coarse

Sheep have small mouths and selective eating habits. Hay with thick, woody stems is difficult for them to consume, and they waste a significant portion. Even if the nutrient content is adequate, coarse hay reduces intake and leads to weight loss. Choose hay with fine stems that sheep can prehend easily.

Not Accounting for Storage Losses

Hay stored outside loses quality over time. The outer layer of round bales exposed to weather can lose 20 to 30 percent of its dry matter and a larger share of its nutrients. Hay stored in a barn retains quality much better. If you buy hay in bulk and store it outside, expect significant losses and account for them in your feeding program.

How to Build a Hay Purchasing System

A systematic approach to hay buying protects your flock and your budget. Develop a written plan before the buying season starts.

Step 1: Calculate Your Annual Hay Needs

Estimate the number of sheep you will feed and the number of days they will need hay. A mature ewe consumes about 3.5 to 4.5 percent of her body weight in dry matter per day. For a 150 pound ewe, that is 5.25 to 6.75 pounds of dry matter daily. If you feed hay for 150 days, one ewe needs 800 to 1000 pounds of hay. Multiply by your flock size and add 10 to 15 percent for waste and storage losses.

Step 2: Define Quality Targets for Each Sheep Class

Write down the minimum protein and energy levels you need for each group. Late gestation ewes need hay testing at least 12 percent protein. Lactating ewes need 14 percent or higher. Dry ewes can use hay in the 8 to 10 percent range. Having these targets in writing helps you evaluate hay offers quickly.

Step 3: Develop Relationships with Hay Growers

Find reliable hay growers in your area and build relationships before you need hay. Ask about their cutting schedules, fertilization practices, and storage methods. A grower who understands your quality requirements is more valuable than one who simply delivers the cheapest load.

Step 4: Request a Test Before You Buy

Ask the grower for a hay test result from the lot you are considering. Many reputable growers test their hay and can provide the analysis. If the grower cannot provide a test, ask to sample the hay yourself before committing to the purchase. Offer to pay for the test if necessary.

Step 5: Inspect Before Unloading

When the hay arrives, inspect several bales from different parts of the load before you unload. Check for mold, dust, weeds, and foreign material. If the hay does not match the quality you agreed on, reject it or negotiate a lower price.

Step 6: Store Hay Properly

Store hay in a dry, well drained area. Small square bales should be stacked on pallets or a gravel base with aisles between stacks for air circulation. Large round bales should be stored on a well drained surface, ideally with the flat ends facing north and south to minimize sun exposure. Cover the top row of outside stacks with a tarp or hay cap.

Step 7: Keep Records

Record the source, purchase date, price, test results, and feeding dates for each lot of hay. This record helps you evaluate which growers provide the best value and which hays perform best for your flock. It also helps you make better decisions in future years.

Feeding Hay to Sheep: Practical Guidelines

How Much Hay to Feed

Sheep should have access to enough hay to meet their dry matter needs. For most mature ewes, that is 3.5 to 4.5 percent of body weight in dry matter daily. A 150 pound ewe needs about 5.25 to 6.75 pounds of dry matter, which means about 6 to 7.5 pounds of hay at 90 percent dry matter.

Offer hay in amounts that allow some waste. If sheep clean up every scrap within a few hours, you are likely underfeeding. If there is a large amount of refused hay, you are overfeeding. Adjust based on body condition and production stage.

Feeding Methods

Hay feeders reduce waste significantly compared to feeding on the ground. A well designed hay feeder with a solid bottom and vertical bars spaced to allow sheep heads but not bodies can reduce waste to 5 to 10 percent. Feeding on the ground can waste 20 to 40 percent of the hay.

For small square bales, use a hay rack or feeder with slats that prevent sheep from pulling out large clumps. For large round bales, use a ring feeder designed for sheep, not cattle. Cattle rings have wider spacing that allows sheep to climb in and contaminate the hay.

Introducing New Hay Gradually

When you switch from one hay type to another, introduce the new hay gradually over 7 to 10 days. Sudden changes in forage can disrupt rumen microbes and cause digestive upsets. Mix the new hay with the old, increasing the proportion over several days.

Water Needs

Sheep on dry hay need access to clean, fresh water at all times. A mature ewe drinks 1 to 2 gallons of water per day, more in hot weather or during lactation. In winter, heated waterers or frequent breaking of ice are necessary to maintain intake. Sheep that do not drink enough water eat less hay and lose condition.

Monitoring Sheep on Hay Rations

Feeding hay is not a set and forget task. Monitor your flock regularly to confirm that the hay is meeting their needs.

Body Condition Scoring

Score body condition every 3 to 4 weeks through the feeding period. A ewe that maintains or gains condition on the hay you feed is receiving adequate nutrition. A ewe that loses condition needs more or better feed. Pay special attention to ewes in late gestation, when condition loss is most dangerous.

Fecal Consistency

Check manure regularly. Normal sheep manure is formed into pellets. Loose, runny manure can indicate too much protein or a sudden change in feed. Very hard, dry pellets can indicate inadequate water intake or too little protein. Adjust the ration accordingly.

Rumen Fill

Check the left side of the sheep, just behind the ribs, for rumen fill. A well filled rumen indicates the sheep is eating enough. A tucked up appearance suggests inadequate intake. This is especially important in late gestation, when ewes have less space for the rumen due to the growing fetuses.

Wool and Skin Condition

Sheep on inadequate rations develop a dull, dry coat and lose wool condition. The skin becomes less elastic. These signs appear gradually and indicate chronic undernutrition.

Lamb Performance

For lactating ewes, lamb growth rate is the best indicator of milk production and therefore hay quality. Lambs should gain 0.5 to 0.75 pounds per day for most breeds. If lambs are growing slowly, the ewe is not producing enough milk, which often traces back to inadequate hay quality.

When to Call a Veterinarian or Extension Agent

Most hay quality issues are manageable with good feeding practices, but some situations require professional help.

Veterinary Care

Call a veterinarian if you see signs of illness that may relate to feed quality. These include:

• Multiple sheep with diarrhea, especially dark or bloody diarrhea
• Sheep showing signs of pregnancy toxemia, including depression, weakness, and a sweet smelling breath
• Abortions or stillbirths, which can be caused by mold toxins in feed
• Sheep with respiratory distress, coughing, or nasal discharge that may relate to dusty or moldy hay
• Sudden death of one or more sheep, which can indicate toxicity from poisonous plants in the hay
• Bloat that does not resolve with standard treatment

A veterinarian can help diagnose the cause, treat affected animals, and advise on whether the hay should be removed from the ration.

Extension Agents and Nutritionists

Call a cooperative extension agent or a sheep nutritionist when you need help with ration balancing, hay testing interpretation, or developing a feeding program. These professionals can help you:

• Interpret hay test results and calculate supplementation needs
• Develop a feeding program for different classes of sheep
• Evaluate the economics of different hay options
• Troubleshoot production problems that may relate to nutrition

Extension agents often have access to forage testing services and can recommend laboratories in your region. They can also connect you with local hay growers and other resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if hay is good quality without a lab test?

Look for bright green color, high leaf content, fine flexible stems, and a sweet fresh smell. Break open several bales and check the interior for mold, dust, and weeds. Feel the hay for softness and flexibility. Hay that is leafy, green, and soft is likely good quality, but only a laboratory test can give you exact protein and energy values. Use visual inspection to reject obviously poor hay, then test the hay you plan to feed.

Is alfalfa hay too rich for sheep?

Alfalfa is not too rich for sheep that need high nutrition, such as lactating ewes and growing lambs. It can be too rich for dry ewes and rams in the off season, leading to obesity and related health problems. Feed alfalfa selectively to the classes of sheep that need it, and use grass hay or mixed hay for sheep in maintenance.

Can sheep eat grass hay exclusively?

Sheep can eat grass hay exclusively for maintenance and early gestation. A good grass hay provides adequate protein and energy for these stages. However, grass hay alone cannot support late gestation, lactation, or rapid lamb growth. Ewes in late pregnancy and lactation need higher protein and energy, which requires either legume hay or supplementation with grain and protein meals.

How much hay does a sheep eat per day?

A mature ewe eats about 3.5 to 4.5 percent of her body weight in dry matter per day. A 150 pound ewe needs 5.25 to 6.75 pounds of dry matter, which is about 6 to 7.5 pounds of hay at 90 percent dry matter. This amount increases in cold weather and during late gestation and lactation.

What is the best hay for sheep with urinary calculi?

Grass hay is the best choice for sheep prone to urinary calculi. It is lower in calcium and has a more favorable calcium to phosphorus ratio than alfalfa. Avoid high calcium legume hays and ensure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio stays below 2 to 1. Provide free choice water and consider adding ammonium chloride to the ration as directed by your veterinarian.

Should I test every load of hay I buy?

Test every lot of hay you plan to feed, especially if it comes from a different field, cutting, or grower. The cost of testing is small compared to the cost of feeding the wrong hay. If you buy the same hay from the same grower year after year, you can test less frequently, but a yearly test is still wise to confirm quality.

How long can hay be stored before it loses quality?

Properly stored hay can maintain quality for 12 to 24 months. Hay stored in a dry barn with good air circulation loses little quality in the first year. Hay stored outside loses quality much faster, especially on the outer surface. The nutritional value of the outer layer of an outside round bale can drop by 30 percent or more within a few months.

Can moldy hay make sheep sick?

Yes, moldy hay can make sheep sick. Some molds cause respiratory disease when inhaled. Others produce mycotoxins that can cause digestive upsets, reproductive problems, immune suppression, and even death. Pregnant ewes are especially vulnerable. Do not feed moldy hay to sheep, especially breeding stock.

Related Farming Guides

• Sheep Hay Selection: Nutritional Needs and Feeding Strategies

This section will be populated with links to related sheep farming guides from our library, covering topics such as sheep nutrition, flock health management, lambing preparation, and pasture management.

Related Clinical & Scientific Guides

• Sheep Grazing Lease: Terms, Rates, and Legal Considerations
• 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.