Before starting a supplementary feeding program for sheep

Before you start a supplementary feeding program, you should weigh up the potential benefits and risks to determine if it is worth going ahead with.

Assess the benefits and risks of a supplementary feeding program

Supplementation programs can be expensive, time consuming and yield poor results if they are not correctly planned. Consider the following factors before starting a supplementary feeding program:

  • quality and quantity of the existing pasture
  • number and type of sheep
  • current and desired growth, pregnancy, weaning and wool production rates
  • climate, including time of year, expected rainfall and temperatures
  • existing nutritional endemic deficiencies
  • other supplements that are available to overcome any nutrient deficiencies
  • risks and benefits in feeding different types of feed and supplements
  • equipment (including transport, mixing machinery and storage of supplements)
  • impact on pasture and future production.

Choosing a supplementary feeding program for sheep

There are different types of supplementary feeding programs for sheep, depending on their needs. It's important to choose the supplements that will benefit your sheep the most.

Supplementary feeding programs for sheep include:

Also consider...

  • Last reviewed: 28 Jun 2016
  • Last updated: 28 Jun 2016