Most pasture programs for sheep must be based on perennial pastures. Perennial pastures provide a solid sod and good footing, even in wet conditions. Annual forages leave open ground where trampling damage and mud can cause severe damage to the crop during wet conditions. In addition, mud lodged between the toes of sheep eventually dries, cakes and leads to lameness. Even with these limitations, the key to extended grazing periods is plantings of annual forages.
Numerous alternatives are available as sheep pasture during all times of the growing season.
Evaluate your resources and requirements to select the alternatives that best meet your needs. Both perennial and annual forages can be selected for use during each season. Pasture alternatives based on perennial pasture usually have abundant forage available from cool-season grasses during May and June, and again in the fall. Supplemental pasture may be beneficial in early spring, midsummer and late fall, and early winter. Nitrate poisoning is possible with small grain high nitrogen fertilization.