{"id":6214,"date":"2022-09-10T07:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T07:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=6214"},"modified":"2022-09-14T18:58:47","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T18:58:47","slug":"what-to-feed-sheep-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/what-to-feed-sheep-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Feed Sheep In Winter?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As ruminants, sheep are naturally suited to being raised on mixed pasture. In some domestic settings, it is desirable to feed a richer quality of nourishments for greater milk or meat production, but even in these settings, forage should make up a great percentage of your sheeps\u2019 diet throughout most of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, you cannot always count on grass as the main source of your flock\u2019s nourishment. Even if you have plenty of pasture space, grass is a seasonal plant. In most locations, you can only count on having it in abundance through the spring and summer and into the early autumn. Read on to learn more about what to feed sheep in winter<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can Sheep Eat In The Winter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The quality of grass your pasture produces will depend a great deal on the type of grass you have planted, the quality of your soil and your climate. A good, healthy crop of grass may be able to continue feeding your sheep to some extent into the winter months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even in areas where fairly deep snow is the norm, sheep can quite a bit of benefit from thick, healthy grass by digging into the snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, light, fluffy snow will present far fewer challenges to hungry sheep than thick snow drifts, but sheep who are accustomed to these circumstances will cope. Of course, if the snow turns to ice, the sheep will not be able to access the underlying grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also important to understand that the dormant grass in winter will not benefit your sheep as much as the actively growing grass in summer. The grass is not as nourishing, and the sheep will have to work harder to get it, so they\u2019ll burn more calories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, even if your sheep are able to get some grass in the winter, they may also need supplementation with hay and other sources of nourishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apparently, some people feed their sheep gigantic sugar beets in the winter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Do We Feed Our Sheep In Winter?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/h5j71Uug_bY\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Many farmers supplement their sheeps\u2019 diet with stored produce, such as squash and pumpkins. If you have oak trees on your property, your sheep are sure to enjoy the acorns. If you are unsure if there is anything that your sheep should avoid, read this post about what not to feed sheep<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s The Best Way To Feed Sheep Hay In The Winter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before winter begins, it\u2019s a good idea to stock up on plenty of average and\/or good quality hay. For the most part, sheep don\u2019t do well on very rich hay (e.g. alfalfa) unless they are recovering from an illness or are pregnant or lactating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otherwise, providing plenty of fresh, clean, good quality hay, kept up off the ground in a manger is a good way to feed your flock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do have pregnant ewes in winter, supplement their feeding with about 4lbs of very high quality grass or alfalfa hay a day during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. During the last 4 weeks add a pound of corn to that ration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the lambs are born, increase the hay to 5 pounds daily and switch out the corn for a 15% crude protein sheep feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grazing Livestock In The Winter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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https:\/\/youtu.be\/HLjCfm4MTbc<\/a>