Feeding Sheep & Goats

Start with what they are eating

Sheep and goats are ruminants: a forage-based diet supports their digestive system. Hay, pasture, and browse vary in nutritional value. A forage test helps identify what a feeding program needs to add; a green field or a full hay rack does not tell the whole story. [1]

Match the stage, not just the species

Growth, late pregnancy, and milk production raise nutritional demands. An animal maintaining condition may need a different supplement from one growing or nursing young. Use forage analysis and advice from your veterinarian, Extension agent, or livestock nutritionist to balance the program. [1]

Separate the mineral plans

Sheep need copper, but excess can be toxic. Their mineral requirements are not a reason to give them goat or cattle minerals. Choose a mineral formulated for sheep, and read its intended species and directions. A copper number on one bag does not describe the whole diet. [2]

For goats, choose a balanced mineral suited to their program. A trace-mineral salt block may not supply the same nutrition as a balanced loose mineral. Keep feeders dry and accessible, and check consumption against the product’s directions. [4]

FarmCrest Sheep & Lamb and FarmCrest Goat are separate examples below. The sheep product specifies forage and free-choice mineral; the goat product specifies good-quality forage, gradual introduction, and its own feeding limit. Read the complete directions for each. [5, 6]

When sheep and goats share space

Use the original feeding diagram as a reminder to keep each species on its own feed and mineral plan. Sheep should not have access to the goat feed carrying the warning above. [2, 6]

1. Read before sharing

   Check every feed and mineral’s species, purpose, directions, and cautions. FarmCrest Goat is not a sheep feed. [6]

2. Separate the feeding areas

   Use a feeding setup that prevents sheep reaching the goat feed or minerals that are unsuitable for sheep. [2, 6]

3. Watch the feeding session

   Check that each animal reaches its intended mineral and that feeders stay clean, dry, and supplied. [4]

Two more sheep-safe Tucker formulas

Tucker Milling confirms that NatureCrest Multi Species Feed and FarmCrest 16% Sweet All Stock are safe for sheep. This confirmation comes directly from Tucker, rather than from the catalog’s species listings. It applies to these two formulas only; it does not cover FarmCrest 12%, FarmCrest 14%, or other all-stock feeds. [7]

The current online product pages do not give sheep feeding amounts. Before feeding either formula, ask our nutritionist about the current formula and the amount for your sheep, and check the bag’s directions and cautions. If the tag or advice differs from this confirmation, do not feed it until Tucker resolves the question. [7, 8, 9]

Check condition, not just the coat

For sheep, hands-on body-condition assessment around the loin gives more information than looking through wool. Learn the sheep method with your Extension agent or veterinarian, record changes, and assess animals at important production stages. This sheep method is not a shared scoring scale for goats. [3]

Ask your veterinarian or Extension agent to show you the appropriate condition assessment for your goats. Bring notes about their stage, feed, and forage to a nutrition discussion.

Make feed changes gradually

Rumen microbes need time to adapt. Introduce changes gradually, and avoid sudden increases in concentrates. Wethers are also vulnerable to urinary stones; a balanced plan needs attention to mineral and water intake. [1]

Your feeding checklist

• Write down the species, stage, and current bag directions for each group.
• Keep a forage-test report with your feeding plan. [1]
• Keep the sheep and goat feed/mineral access separate. [2]
• Check water, mineral feeders, and changes in intake. [4]
• Record sheep condition regularly using the hands-on method. [3]

If appetite or condition declines, contact your veterinarian rather than assuming that more feed will solve it. For feed selection, ask our nutritionist; for label terminology, read How to Read Your Feed Tag.