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Find information on animal health topics, written for the veterinary professional.

Overview of Nutrition: Sheep

By David G. Pugh, DVM, MS, MAg, DACT, DACVN, DACVM, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University

The economical and efficient production of sheep for meat, wool, show and/or pets is contingent on proper feeding, husbandry practices, and health care. All of these are influenced by dietary intake. Maintenance of breeding animals, a high percentage of the lamb crop weaned, growth of lambs, optimal weaning weights, and a heavy fleece weight and fleece quality are important to efficiency. The nutritional requirements for maintenance, reproduction, growth, finishing, and wool production are complex because sheep are maintained under a wide variety of environmental conditions; however, attempts should be made to ensure each production unit or individual sheep has adequate nutrient intake to be healthy and productive.