6 Sheep Feed Suppliers Near Me Local Shepherds Swear By

You’ve got good pasture, quality hay, and a clean water source, but your sheep still seem to be missing something. Choosing the right supplemental feed feels like a critical decision because it is—it directly impacts flock health, lamb growth, and your bottom line. The wall of feed bags at the local co-op can be overwhelming, but understanding what’s inside them is the key to making a smart choice.

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Choosing a Feed: Nutrition and Local Sourcing

The right feed is more than just calories; it’s a strategic tool. The nutritional needs of a pregnant ewe are vastly different from those of a wether maintaining his weight on pasture. Your primary dial is protein, usually ranging from 14% for simple maintenance to 18% or higher for lactating ewes or rapidly growing lambs.

Don’t overlook the value of a local mill if you have one. While big brands offer consistency, a local supplier often provides fresher feed made with regional ingredients. You might even be able to get a custom mix if your flock has specific needs. The tradeoff is that their formulas can sometimes vary slightly based on ingredient availability, whereas national brands pride themselves on a fixed formula.

Ultimately, the goal is to supplement what your forage lacks. In lush spring pasture, you may need very little grain. In the dead of winter or during a dry spell, a well-chosen feed becomes essential for keeping your animals in prime condition.

Kalmbach 17% Lamb Texter for Peak Performance

When you need to put weight on lambs quickly or give your ewes a serious boost, Kalmbach’s Lamb Texter is a top-tier choice. It’s a textured feed, meaning it’s a mix of pellets, grains, and molasses. This texture often increases palatability, encouraging even picky eaters to clean up their ration.

This is a high-octane fuel, not a daily driver for the whole flock. It’s specifically formulated for periods of high nutritional demand: lambs from weaning to market weight, ewes in late gestation carrying twins or triplets, and ewes at the peak of lactation. The 17% protein, combined with a good fat and fiber balance, supports rapid, healthy growth.

Because it’s a premium product, it comes with a premium price tag. The smart way to use it is strategically. You wouldn’t feed this year-round to your entire flock, but for finishing lambs or supporting hardworking mothers, the return on investment in animal health and growth is often worth it.

Nutrena Country Feeds 17% for Mixed Herds

Nutrena is a workhorse brand, and their 17% sheep feed is a fantastic all-around option. It hits a nutritional sweet spot that works well for a diverse hobby farm flock. It has enough protein to support moderate growth in your lambs and keep lactating ewes in good shape without being too "hot" for your adult wethers.

This is the feed many turn to for its simplicity and reliability. If you don’t want to store multiple types of feed for different groups, this one bag can often do the job for everyone, provided you adjust the quantity fed. It’s a pelleted feed, which reduces sorting and ensures every animal gets a consistent bite of nutrition.

One of its biggest advantages is accessibility. You can find Nutrena products at most farm supply stores, like Tractor Supply. This means you can rely on it being in stock, which is a significant factor when you’re managing a small farm with a tight schedule.

Purina Honor Show Lamb Grower for Show Stock

If you’re raising sheep for the show ring, your nutritional needs are on another level. Purina’s Honor Show line is designed for exactly that. This feed is less about basic maintenance and all about achieving the perfect "finish"—the ideal combination of muscle, fat cover, and overall appearance.

These feeds are meticulously formulated. They often contain specialized ingredients like bypass proteins for muscle development, added fats for a smooth feel and healthy skin, and specific minerals and vitamins to enhance wool quality and overall bloom. It’s a high-performance diet for a very specific purpose.

For a typical pasture flock, this feed is complete overkill and far too expensive. Using it on commercial or pet sheep is like putting racing fuel in a lawnmower. But if your goal is a blue ribbon, the targeted nutrition in a show feed can provide that competitive edge.

Standlee Alfalfa Pellets for Forage Supplement

Don’t mistake alfalfa pellets for a complete grain ration—they are a forage supplement. Think of them as concentrated hay in a bag. They provide an excellent source of protein and calcium, making them incredibly useful in specific situations.

Alfalfa pellets are a shepherd’s secret weapon. They are perfect for boosting the protein intake of pregnant or lactating ewes without adding a lot of grain. They are also a lifesaver for older sheep with worn teeth who can no longer chew long-stem hay effectively. Because they are pellets, they are easy to measure, store, and there is very little waste.

However, they don’t replace the need for long-stem fiber. A sheep’s rumen is designed to process coarse forage, which is crucial for cud-chewing and overall digestive health. Use alfalfa pellets as a supplement to your hay, not a total replacement for it.

Blue Seal Home Fresh 16% for Maintenance Diet

For the parts of the year when your flock isn’t in high production, a maintenance diet is all you need. Blue Seal’s 16% sheep feed is a solid, reliable choice for this purpose. It provides all the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep adult sheep healthy without the extra protein and energy that could lead to unwanted weight gain.

This is the ideal feed for your rams outside of breeding season, your open (non-pregnant) ewes, and your pet wethers. The 16% protein level is sufficient to maintain body condition without pushing for growth or milk. This is how you manage feed costs effectively while ensuring your flock’s baseline needs are met.

A key feature in feeds like this is the inclusion of ammonium chloride. This additive helps acidify urine, which is crucial for preventing urinary calculi (stones) in male sheep, a potentially fatal condition. Never underestimate the importance of this ingredient for your rams and wethers.

Producer’s Pride Sheep Feed: A Budget Option

Every farm supply store has its own brand, and Producer’s Pride (from Tractor Supply) is one of the most common. This is your no-frills, budget-friendly option. It meets the basic nutritional requirements on the tag and can be a perfectly acceptable choice for many hobby flocks.

The main tradeoff here is often ingredient consistency. While premium brands use a "fixed formula," many store brands use a "least-cost formulation." This means the primary ingredients might change from batch to batch based on market prices, even though the guaranteed protein, fat, and fiber percentages remain the same.

For a hardy flock of hair sheep on good pasture, this feed is often more than adequate for maintenance. If you are raising sensitive, high-performance wool breeds or pushing for rapid lamb growth, you may find the consistency of a name-brand feed gives you more predictable results. It’s a classic case of balancing cost against performance.

How to Read a Feed Tag and Assess Quality

The feed tag is the most honest part of the bag. It cuts through clever marketing and tells you what’s actually inside. Learning to read it is a fundamental skill for any shepherd.

Start with the "Guaranteed Analysis." This is the nutritional breakdown.

• Crude Protein (CP): This is the engine for growth and milk production. 16% is good for maintenance; 17-18% is for production.
• Crude Fat: A concentrated energy source. Higher fat (4-5%) can help with conditioning.
• Crude Fiber: Essential for rumen health. Look for numbers in the 8-15% range for a balanced feed.

Next, scan the ingredients list. Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Seeing whole grains like corn, oats, or barley high on the list is a good sign. Vague terms like "processed grain by-products" can indicate lower-quality filler ingredients.

Most importantly, check the copper levels. Sheep are extremely sensitive to copper toxicity, and high levels can be fatal. You must only use a feed specifically labeled for sheep. Never, ever feed your flock a ration formulated for cattle, horses, or even standard goat feed, as these often contain copper levels that are dangerous for sheep. Also look for added Selenium and Ammonium Chloride, two key ingredients for sheep health.

Ultimately, the best feed is the one that meets your flock’s needs and fits your farm’s budget. Start with a quality forage base, use the feed tag as your guide, and pay close attention to your animals’ condition. The sheep themselves are the final judges of any feeding program.