Sheep Housing and Facilities Requirements

Well-designed sheep facilities should promote the health and welfare of sheep. They should provide a comfortable, stress-free environment for sheep to live. In addition, the facilities should allow producers to complete routine management tasks efficiently.

Sheep require a minimum pen size and a minimum size for feeders. Pen and feeder sizes both vary based on the size of the sheep. Well-designed facilities will also save labor and allow for more efficient management tasks throughout the year.

Housing Facilities

 All sheep operations should include some type of housing facility. For example, a barn or a shed would be a typical housing facility for a sheep operation. Housing facilities may be needed when lambing during the winter or early spring, for problems related to lambing, managing sick sheep, handling or sorting sheep, or other reasons. These facilities will need pens large enough to accommodate mature sheep. Sheep generally require 12 to 16 square feet per ewe in open pens inside a barn while at maintenance through mid-gestation. This area increases to 15 to 20 square feet per ewe when they have lambs. Rams require 20 to 30 square feet. Sheep housed outside should have 25 to 40 square feet per sheep for rams and ewes, and 30 to 50 square feet for ewes with lambs.

When penning ewes in jugs during lambing season, small to medium-sized ewes will need 4 ft. X 4 ft. pens, and larger ewes will need 5 ft. X 5 ft. pens. Very large ewes may need even larger pens to allow a ewe enough space to maneuver without stepping on her lambs.

Sheep with at least one inch of wool are often housed outside during the winter with access to an area that blocks the wind. Hair sheep can also handle cold winter temperatures as they grow thick undercoats to protect themselves from the weather. All sheep should be in good body condition and have access to plenty of good-quality feed and water.

Sheep will often lie down near a hay feeder during inclement winter weather, or they may seek out natural windbreaks such as wooded areas or hollows. Another option that some sheep producers utilize for winter housing is a three-sided shed open to the south or east. No matter what type of barn or shed, the facility should have adequate ventilation to provide fresh air to the sheep without producing drafts that could chill newborn lambs.

Feeders

Pennsylvania producers will need to feed their sheep stored forages at some point during the year. The use of feeders promotes sheep health by minimizing fecal contamination as well as limiting the amount of feed wasted. Many different feeder options are available for forages, grain, or both. It is essential to consider feeding facilities in terms of ease of use, function within the production system, and how the facilities promote animal health and well-being. Facilities do not need to be elaborate, but they do need to be both animal and producer-friendly.

The Midwest Plan Service publication, Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook, recommends different feeder lengths, depending on feeding practices. Limit-fed rams require 12 inches of feeder space, while self-fed rams require 6 inches. Ewes require 16 to 20 inches of feeder space when limit-fed, regardless of their production status. However, when self-feeding, ewes require four to six inches from maintenance through mid-gestation, and 6 to 8 inches when nursing lambs.

Creep Feeding Facilities

Many producers choose to creep-feed the lambs to increase lamb growth rates and thus weaning weights. Producers should consider both the size of the creep feeder area and the size of the feeders within the creep area.

Lambs weighing up to 30 pounds should have 1.5 to 2 square feet of creep feeder space. As lambs grow, they require a larger creep feeder area. The square footage should increase to 8 to 10 square feet per lamb when lambs weigh 30 to 110 lbs. Weaned lambs with access to an outdoor lot should have 20 to 30 square feet per lamb.

Producers should plan for 2 inches of feeder space for lambs weighing 5 to 30 pounds. Lambs weighing 30 to 110 pounds that are limit-fed require 9 to 12 inches of feeder space and 10 inches when self-fed.

Watering Systems

All livestock require fresh, clean water for maximum performance. Ideally, animals should always have access to a high-quality water source. Water consumption varies based on animal size and weather conditions, ranging from one to three gallons per day per head. Producers should plan the watering system size based on the number of animals in a group. Rams should have adequate water access with a system that allows for two rams per foot of watering system length. One foot of watering system length for ewes can provide enough water for 15 to 25 ewes or 25 to 40 lambs weighing 30 to 110 pounds.

Summary

Providing adequately-sized facilities promotes animal health and welfare. Housing facilities should provide enough space for sheep to move around and lie down comfortably. Feeders should be large enough for less dominant, shy animals to meet their feed requirements and limit pushing and shoving amongst animals. Because water intake impacts feed intake and performance, producers should pay close attention to watering system size.

Resource

Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook, Fourth edition, 1994, Midwest Plan Service