Water requirements of sheep
Water is often the most underestimated nutrient, especially for sheep in pasture areas. Always provide unlimited access to fresh and clean drinking water. In winter, when there is soft snow, sheep can obtain moisture from snow, but only if they are not fed dry feed. With dry feed, such as hay or pellets, extra water is essential, even when there is snow. If there is snow with an ice crust, you must break the crust so the animals can reach it. Daily checks remain important.
Energy and protein requirements of a sheep
A hobby sheep usually gets enough energy and protein from grass and hay. Extra energy via concentrate feed is only needed for:
- Pregnant or lactating ewes
- Young lambs
- Older animals with loss of condition
- During severe cold or extreme drought
Please note: always feed specific sheep pellets, not cattle or goat pellets, as these contain too much copper.
Minerals for a sheep
Minerals are essential, also for hobby sheep. A deficiency can lead to lethargy, growth problems or reduced resistance. Therefore, provide your animals with sheep lick stones or mineral blocks with an adapted salt and mineral content.
Calcium and phosphorus are important for the skeleton and metabolism, especially during growth and pregnancy. Iodine is needed for a healthy thyroid gland. Cobalt is essential for the production of vitamin B12, which is required for growth and resistance. Selenium and zinc support the immune system and skin health.
Take care with Texel sheep and other sensitive breeds: they are extra sensitive to copper, so always choose products specifically for sheep.
Vitamins for a sheep
Vitamins are also very important for sheep, especially vitamin E and vitamin B1.
Vitamin E is important for muscle function, resistance and fertility. A deficiency can lead to muscle weakness or fertility problems, especially in lambs and pregnant ewes. Sheep can hardly store vitamin E, so it must be supplied regularly through the diet.
A deficiency of vitamin B1 can lead to polioencephalomalacia, a serious brain disorder in sheep with symptoms such as blindness, staggering or exaggerated startle responses. It is mainly seen with an imbalance in the diet or sudden feed changes.
You can prevent problems by providing a stable, high-quality diet. Be careful with too much concentrate feed or sudden feed changes.
What should a sheep not eat?
It is better not to feed your sheep the following:
- Bread: this can cause blockage or choking and contains too much salt
- Cattle or goat pellets: these contain too much copper and are dangerous for sheep
- Poisonous plants: ragwort, yew, laurel, foxglove and other plants are poisonous to sheep
- Lettuce and onion: these are difficult to digest and harmful for your sheep
Poisonous plants for sheep
Poisonous plants for sheep include ragwort, St John’s wort, bracken fern, yew, rhododendron, oleander, cherry laurel and unripe acorns. The danger of these plants increases when they end up in hay or silage, because the toxic effects do not disappear, while the bitter taste does. It is also crucial to watch out for garden prunings, as toxins can be quickly absorbed and may be fatal.
Well-known poisonous plants for sheep:
- Ragwort: contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that cause liver damage, especially when it ends up in hay.
- St John’s wort: another poisonous plant that can cause liver problems.
- Bracken fern: all parts of this plant are poisonous, even after drying.
- Yew: a highly toxic shrub where even a small amount can be fatal.
- Rhododendron and azalea: these ornamental plants can be dangerous, especially if sheep start nibbling them during snowy periods.
- Oleander: a poisonous ornamental plant whose toxins can enter the pasture through garden prunings.
- Cherry laurel: also poisonous and can quickly lead to cyanide poisoning after ingestion of prunings.
- Unripe acorns and young oak leaves: contain tannic acid, which can cause stomach and intestinal problems.
Please note:
- Hay and silage: the toxic substances in plants such as ragwort remain active in hay, but the bitter taste disappears, meaning sheep may eat them unnoticed.
- Garden prunings: prunings from poisonous shrubs such as yew or cherry laurel must never be thrown into the pasture. The toxins are quickly absorbed by the body.
- Long-term intake: some poisonous plants cause poisoning through long-term intake of small quantities, which can lead to liver failure.
Do you have any questions about feed for your sheep? Please contact us via veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.
