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Sheep are social, hoofed ruminants in the genus Ovis. People raise them for meat, wool, pelts, and milk, while their flock instincts and needs for forage, shelter, and preventive health care shape how they should be kept. Their exact diet and management depend on age, season, production stage, and local conditions.
What are sheep?
Sheep are small ungulates—hoofed mammals—and ruminants. Their digestive system is adapted to diets that include forage. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes sheep as adapted to varied climates and diets and dates their domestication to approximately 11,000 years ago in the Middle East. Merck Veterinary Manual
There is no single sheep type or management system suited to every purpose. Breed, environment, available forage, and the keeper’s goals all influence how sheep are raised.
How do sheep behave?
Sheep are strongly social and generally stay in flocks. Merck Veterinary Manual says, “Sheep are gregarious and have strong herd instincts.” Their tendency to maintain social cohesion affects how they respond to perceived threats and how people manage and handle them. Vigilance and flight distance vary with perceived risk and environmental and animal factors, so sheep do not all react identically in every situation. Merck Veterinary Manual
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Why are sheep raised?
Sheep are raised for meat, wool, pelts, and milk. Which product is the main focus varies by region and production system. A flock may be managed for one output or a combination, and suitability depends on the animals, climate, forage, scale, available labor, and local veterinary and regulatory context.
Sheep are kept around the world: Merck’s overview, last updated in 2024, reports more than 1 billion sheep globally and sheep populations exceeding 1 million in 96% of UN-recognized countries. Merck Veterinary Manual
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In the United States, the number of sheep operations rose from more than 83,000 in 2007 to upward of 101,000 in 2017, then fell to under 89,000 in 2022, according to USDA Economic Research Service figures updated May 7, 2026. USDA Economic Research Service
What do sheep eat?
Forage is a central part of sheep diets, but requirements vary with age, season, and production stage. An adequate diet must provide water, energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Merck’s general husbandry guidance recommends daily access to water and good-quality forage, as well as suitable supplemental vitamins and minerals. Merck Veterinary Manual
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Mineral choice deserves particular care: sheep are sensitive to copper toxicity. A suitable ration depends on local forage and water, the flock’s condition, and production goals, so a general feeding description is not a complete ration plan. Consult a veterinarian or qualified animal nutrition professional about flock-specific needs.
What basic care do sheep need?
Shelter and fencing
Provide clean, uncrowded shelter that protects sheep from weather extremes while allowing adequate ventilation. Keep bedding clean and dry, maintain sound fencing, and manage grazing and stocking so the flock does not exceed the land’s carrying capacity. Merck Veterinary Manual
Daily observation and separation
Check sheep frequently for signs of illness or injury, changes in body condition, and hoof problems. Where feasible, provide separate space for sick or quarantined animals. Regular observation helps keep emerging problems from being overlooked, but it does not replace veterinary assessment.
Preventive health
Preventive care can include vaccination and routine hoof trimming. A flock health plan should cover nutrition, parasite control, breeding, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Appropriate choices depend on the animals and their circumstances; work with a veterinarian on a plan rather than treating broad husbandry guidance as a diagnosis or treatment recipe. Merck Veterinary Manual
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you choose sheep or a management approach?
Start with the intended output—meat, wool, milk, or mixed use—then assess whether the animals and plan fit the climate and available forage. Also consider flock size, the labor and facilities available, and access to veterinary care. Local rules may apply, and requirements vary by location; check with relevant local authorities before establishing a flock.
No universally superior breed or system follows from these considerations. USDA APHIS conducted its fourth national sheep industry study in 2024 with NASS collaboration. It covered 30 major sheep-producing states and was designed to describe health and management practices; the APHIS page was modified December 24, 2025. USDA APHIS
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