Sheep Feed for Mutton Production: What It Contains and How to Choose It

By Dr Duncan Houston

Feeding sheep for mutton production starts with a practical question: what does this animal need to reach a suitable sale condition, and will the extra feeding pay?

Mutton comes from mature sheep, including older ewes and wethers. Their feeding plan needs to account for body condition, teeth, health and the intended market. A ration designed for rapidly growing lambs is not automatically the most economical choice.

Quick answer: Sheep raised for mutton usually eat pasture or other forage, with grain, protein feeds and sheep-specific minerals added where needed. Choose feed according to the quality of the existing diet, the sheep’s condition and the buyer’s specifications. Introduce grain gradually, maintain adequate roughage and use feeds confirmed as suitable for sheep.

What is standard feed for mutton sheep made from?

There is no single standard recipe. Some sheep can finish on good pasture, while others need supplementary feeding or a properly formulated complete ration.

Feed type	Common examples	Main role
Pasture and forage crops	Grasses, clovers and suitable grazing crops	Provide energy, protein and fibre, depending on quality and availability.
Conserved forage	Grass hay, cereal hay, lucerne hay and suitable silage	Supply roughage and varying amounts of energy and protein.
Cereal grains	Barley, oats, wheat and maize	Increase dietary energy when forage alone is insufficient.
Protein feeds	Lupins, peas and suitable plant protein meals	Help correct protein shortages in the overall diet.
Manufactured feeds	Sheep nuts, pellets and formulated blends	Provide a specified combination of nutrients.
Mineral supplements	Sheep-specific mineral mixes, with calcium or other minerals where required	Correct identified gaps in the ration.

The ingredient list is only part of the story. The amount eaten, digestibility, moisture content and balance of the whole diet determine what the sheep actually receives.

Sheep need a healthy rumen to use their feed properly.

Sheep are ruminants. Microbes in the rumen break down feed, allowing them to obtain nutrients from forage that humans and other single-stomached animals cannot use as efficiently.

Those microbes need a stable feeding environment. Effective roughage supports chewing and rumen function, while sudden increases in rapidly fermentable grain can cause dangerous acidity.

The aim is to supply enough nutrients for the target outcome while keeping digestion working properly.

1. Assess the sheep before buying the feed.

An older sheep in poor condition is not always simply underfed.

Check:

• Body condition: Feel the loin and backbone rather than judging through the fleece.

• Teeth and mouth: Worn, missing or painful teeth can limit intake.

• Feet and mobility: Lame sheep may struggle to reach feed or compete.

• Appetite and behaviour: Identify sheep that hang back or leave feed.

• Reproductive status: Pregnant or lactating ewes have different needs from dry finishing sheep.

• Health history: Consider parasites, chronic illness and recent treatment.

Older animals with poor teeth or lameness may consume less feed despite apparently adequate supplies. Grouping them separately can help, but some need veterinary assessment and a different management decision.

A useful finishing candidate is an otherwise healthy sheep that can eat comfortably and has a realistic opportunity to improve. An animal already struggling to walk or maintain itself needs prompt welfare attention.

2. Decide what you are trying to achieve.

Maintenance feeding keeps a sheep at roughly its current weight and condition. Finishing requires enough additional nutrients to improve sale condition.

Before starting, ask the buyer or agent about:

• Accepted sheep categories.

• Preferred carcase weights and fat coverage.

• Discounts for animals outside specifications.

• Delivery timing and payment basis.

Do not assume that the heaviest sheep will return the best margin. Once an animal meets the target, further feeding may add cost without a worthwhile increase in value.

Use targets for the actual mature sheep being fed. Young-lamb growth figures should not be copied into a mutton finishing budget. Market specifications and expected feeding costs need to be considered together.

3. Find out what the pasture or hay is missing.

A paddock can contain plenty of standing material and still provide inadequate nutrition. Mature, dry pasture and cereal straw may fill the rumen before the sheep obtains enough usable energy.

Where possible, test purchased or home-grown conserved feed. Useful measures include:

Feed-test measure	What it tells you
Dry matter, or DM	How much feed remains after water is removed.
Metabolisable energy, or ME	The estimated energy available to the animal.
Crude protein	Helps assess whether dietary protein is adequate.
Fibre measurements	Help interpret digestibility and potential limits on intake.
Relevant mineral analysis	Helps identify specific imbalances when indicated.

Compare the result with the sheep’s weight, condition and intended gain. A feed sufficient for maintenance may be inadequate for finishing.

Stubble also changes as it is grazed. Sheep often select spilled grain and more nutritious plant material first, leaving poorer material behind. Reassess the feed available rather than assuming the paddock supplies the same diet throughout the grazing period.

4. Check whether pellets are complete feed or a supplement.

The words “sheep pellets” do not tell you everything you need to know.

A complete ration is designed to supply the stated class of sheep with its nutritional requirements when fed as directed. A supplementary pellet is intended to be fed alongside pasture, hay or other specified ingredients.

Ask the supplier:

• Is this suitable for mature sheep being finished for mutton?

• What forage or roughage must be supplied with it?

• What are its energy and protein specifications?

• How should it be introduced?

• Does it contain urea, medication or other additives?

• What are the feeding limits and storage instructions?

Do not assume a pellet contains enough effective fibre simply because its label lists a fibre percentage. The product’s formulation and directions determine how it should fit into the ration.

If mixing feed yourself, have a sheep nutritionist balance the whole ration and confirm the mixing method.

5. Introduce grain gradually and keep feeding consistent.

Suddenly offering large amounts of cereal grain can cause ruminal acidosis, also called grain poisoning. Pellets containing substantial grain can present the same problem.

Agriculture Victoria describes building sheep up to a full grain ration over approximately three to four weeks, with adjustments for the feed and the animals’ response. Use a specific introduction programme rather than treating that timeframe as a recipe.

During introduction:

• Start with small, measured amounts.

• Maintain the roughage required by the feeding plan.

• Ensure all sheep can access feed.

• Separate shy feeders from dominant animals where needed.

• Watch appetite, droppings, cud chewing and behaviour.

• Avoid sudden changes between grain types or feed batches.

Do not compensate for a missed feeding by allowing unrestricted access to grain.

Check the flock’s clostridial vaccination programme before moving onto richer feed. Enterotoxaemia, commonly called pulpy kidney, is a concern with energy-rich feeding; vaccination complements careful ration management.

6. Choose minerals specifically for sheep.

Sheep need copper, but they are particularly susceptible to copper poisoning. Feeds and mineral supplements intended for cattle, goats, pigs or poultry may contain unsuitable amounts.

Copper exposure includes the entire diet, and other minerals affect its availability. Choose sheep-specific products and obtain advice before adding extra trace elements. “More minerals” is not a reliable solution to poor growth.

Wethers and rams also need attention to urinary-stone risk. Ration mineral balance and water intake matter, especially with concentrate feeding. Have the calcium and phosphorus balance assessed rather than adding minerals at random.

Repeated straining with little or no urine is an emergency. Do not assume a male sheep is constipated or wait for a feed change to fix it.

What about urea blocks and dry licks?

Urea supplies nitrogen that rumen microbes can use. It can help in selected situations where sheep have plenty of dry forage but insufficient nitrogen for efficient digestion.

It does not replace the bulk feed required by hungry sheep, and incorrect use can cause poisoning. Use a professionally formulated sheep product with clear directions and obtain advice on whether it suits the available forage.

7. Calculate whether additional finishing is worthwhile.

Compare feeds by nutritional value, including energy, rather than bag price alone. Moisture, wastage, delivery and the cost of required roughage all affect the real feeding cost.

For the finishing decision:

Expected extra margin = expected sale value after finishing − sale value today − additional finishing costs.

For example, using hypothetical figures:

Item	Amount per sheep
Expected increase in sale value	$30.00
Feed for 28 days at $0.70 per day	$19.60
Other additional costs	$5.00
Expected extra margin	$5.40

That is a narrow margin. Slower gain, wasted feed, a lower sale price or extra treatment could remove it.

These figures are an illustration, not current prices or a feeding recommendation. Use local quotes and realistic performance estimates, and allow for losses and uncertainty.

Weigh sheep at consistent intervals, such as every one to two weeks, under comparable conditions. Combine weights with hands-on condition assessment. If sheep are not improving, investigate intake and health before buying another load of feed.

Water, storage and access can determine the result.

Provide clean, palatable water and check trough operation daily. Water needs change with weather, diet and production stage; a dry finishing ration makes reliable supply particularly important.

Keep feed dry and protected from contamination. Inspect unfamiliar hay or grain for spoilage, weeds and other unwanted material. Enough feeder space, suitable footing and shelter help sheep maintain access and avoid unnecessary competition.

Some animal-derived feed ingredients are prohibited.

In Australia, sheep must not be fed Restricted Animal Material. This includes ingredients such as meat and bone meal, blood meal and fishmeal, including manufactured feeds containing them.

Check the feed label and prevent access to poultry feed, pet food or other feeds containing restricted ingredients. A product being suitable for chickens does not make it suitable for sheep.

When poor performance needs veterinary attention

Poor weight gain can reflect inadequate nutrition, but also dental disease, lameness, parasites or chronic illness. Persistent weight loss despite apparently adequate feeding warrants investigation.

What you notice	Action
Some sheep lag behind while the rest improve	Check individual access, teeth, feet and condition; arrange assessment if the cause is unclear.
Off-feed behaviour, diarrhoea or discomfort after increasing grain	Contact your veterinarian promptly and stop further ration increases.
Severe abdominal swelling, breathing difficulty, collapse or inability to stand	Seek emergency veterinary help immediately.
A ram or wether repeatedly strains but passes little or no urine	Treat as a possible urinary blockage and seek emergency care.

If sheep gain accidental access to a large quantity of grain, remove access and call your veterinarian promptly, even before severe signs develop.

Common feeding mistakes

• Assuming a maintenance ration will also produce useful weight gain.

• Feeding older sheep without checking teeth and mobility.

• Increasing grain too quickly.

• Using mineral products intended for another species.

• Expecting a lick block to replace missing pasture or hay.

• Continuing to feed after the target condition has been reached.

Frequently asked questions

Can sheep be finished for mutton on grass alone?

Yes, where pasture quality and availability meet their requirements. Monitor actual weight and condition changes. Dry, mature pasture may require supplementation even when there appears to be plenty of it.

Is barley better than sheep pellets?

Neither is automatically better. Barley mainly supplies energy; pellets vary from supplements to complete feeds. Compare their roles in the full ration, including protein, minerals, roughage and delivered cost.

Can I give sheep cattle feed?

Do not assume it is suitable. The copper concentration, other ingredients and feeding directions may be inappropriate. Use feed explicitly confirmed as suitable for sheep.

Can an older ewe with poor teeth still gain condition?

Sometimes, with an appropriate diet and separate management. However, painful dental disease, severe tooth wear or another illness can limit the response. Have her assessed rather than relying on extra grain alone.

If you are unsure whether your sheep need better forage, supplementary feeding or a health investigation, ASK A VET™ can help you identify the questions to discuss with your veterinarian or sheep nutritionist. Feed-test results, weights, condition scores and treatment records make that conversation more useful.