What do sheep eat?

A sheep's diet consists mainly of pasture plants, including grass, forbs and clovers. If there is enough pasture available to the sheep, and the climate permits year-round grazing, no additional food may be needed. If there is not enough forage available, a sheep's diet can be supplemented with items like high-quality hay and grain feed.

Ideally, sheep should be able to graze on a well-producing pasture for at least 7 hours a day, and the size of the pasture depends on how many sheep are in the flock. Sheep that are young, pregnant, sick or lactating may have additional dietary needs.