Sheep Feed: Pellets, Muesli and Mineral Feed for the Flock

Sheep Feed: Top Up the Forage, Do Not Replace It

Sheep are forage eaters, and no sack of concentrate changes that. You feed extra where the forage falls short: in late pregnancy, during lactation and with finishing lambs. For that we stock pellets and muesli in 20, 25 and 30 kilo sacks, plus lucerne, cereals and top-ups such as colostrum, mineral licks and digestive oils.

Pellets or muesli

Pellets are the safe choice when several animals stand at the trough. Every ingredient sits in the same nut, so nobody picks out the best bits and leaves the rest behind. They are low in dust and easy to measure out. Muesli has more structure, is taken more readily and suits single animals that need building up. Whatever you feed, introduce it slowly and raise the amount over several days, because the rumen needs time to adjust. Keep in mind that sheep feed has to be low in copper, so cattle or horse feed is not suitable for sheep.

What matters alongside the concentrate

Fibre comes in through lucerne pellets, which mix well with concentrate and are free from GMOs. For minerals there are rock salt licks the animals help themselves to, either pressed in a pack of four or as a single block with a hanging cord. And for the first hours of life there is colostrum supplement along with pastes containing immunoglobulins, for when the ewe's own colostrum is short or a lamb arrives late. If you need certified goods, pellets, maize, barley, oats and lucerne are available in organic quality too.

Frequently asked questions

Can I feed cattle feed to sheep?
No. Cattle and horse feed contains far more copper, and sheep react badly to it, up to and including poisoning.

How quickly can I build up the ration?
In small steps over several days. A sudden large amount of concentrate leads to rumen acidosis very quickly.

Pellets or muesli for the flock?
Pellets when several animals share a trough, because selective feeding is then impossible. Muesli is better for single animals.