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Sheep grazing in a paddock
Hay for sheep

Sheep hay, built for the Tablelands, where winters bite and feed gaps hurt.

Sheep eat less per head than cattle, but they're far more sensitive to feed quality, especially around lambing, weaning and through the autumn feed gap. We supply hay that does the work without surprises: stable rounds for paddock feeding, dense small squares for feedlot operations, and clean lucerne for ewes that need a finish.

What we recommend

The right hay for sheep, matched to the job.

Each variety has a use, here's how we match hay to the sheep you're feeding.

Feeding notes, sheep.

How much hay per sheep, per day?

Dry merino ewe: about 1kg of hay per day. Pregnant ewe (last 6 weeks): 1.5–2kg. Lamb (post-weaning): 0.7–1kg. A 300kg round of oaten will feed 100 dry ewes for two to three days, or 50 pregnant ewes for the same period.

Lambing and lucerne

Lucerne in the last six weeks of pregnancy lifts colostrum quality and lamb birth weight. Most producers we work with switch their pregnant mob onto a lucerne/oaten mix at six weeks pre-lambing, single round bale of lucerne mixed through a paddock feeder of oaten is the standard approach.

Bloat risk on lucerne

Sheep can bloat on fresh lucerne pasture, but they're much less prone to bloating on lucerne hay. The fermentation process during curing reduces the bloat risk substantially. That said, introduce lucerne gradually over five to seven days if it's new to the mob.

Feeding through the autumn gap

March to May is when the Southern Tablelands runs out of feed. Most experienced producers buy and store winter hay in January–February when prices dip after summer cuts. Talk to us about locking in a March delivery contract in late February.

Need hay this week?

Call Paul direct, the phone's answered 24/7 for current stock and availability, and we can usually deliver within the week.

Hay for sheep, common questions

What's the best hay for sheep?
For dry maintenance, oaten or pasture hay. For pregnant ewes (last six weeks) and lambs, lucerne or a lucerne/oaten mix. For weaners and post-weaning growth, lucerne is worth the extra. We can match hay to your mob and the season.
How many sheep will a round bale feed?
A 300kg round of oaten will keep about 100 dry ewes going for two to three days, or 50 pregnant ewes for the same period. Numbers improve substantially with a ring feeder, without one, wastage is around 30%.
Can sheep eat round bales meant for cattle?
Yes, same hay, different feeder. The only difference is access: sheep need a feeder with smaller gaps or they'll waste more by walking through the bale. A cattle ring feeder works fine for sheep if you adjust the spacing.