Sheep eating nettles

[sheepmatilda]

Hey, I have turned my sheep out onto some new grazing, plenty of lovely grass, there were a few large patches of nettles in the field. The sheep seemed to have made a beeline to the patches of nettles and totally eaten the lot! Are my sheep deficient in some mineral that would make them want to scoff all the nettles first? They have mineral blocks out with them all the time, just wondered if something in the nettles that they might be lacking? Thanks.

 

[llamedos]

Nope, some sheep just like nettles, and suss out how to eat them without stinging their lips.

 

[milkloss]

Yes, they seem to like them at this time of year or anytime they've been cut down.

 

[GTB]

I've never noticed our sheep eating nettles... not that we have many nettles obviously

 

[David.]

They seem to love them when the seed tassels are out and the stings are less vicious.

 

[mac78]

My ex Lana ewes eat them all the time and stand on hind legs
Eating leaves of the trees

 

[Jon.S]

I wish my bloody sheep would eat nettles.

 

[exmoor dave]

My ex Lana ewes eat them all the time and stand on hind legs
Eating leaves of the trees

Mine cleared a HLS field of docks and nettles.


I think they were after a trace element or something as they haven't repeated the same in better looked after fields.


They eat brambles and tree leave where ever I put them

 

[Kiwi Pete]

It's got heaps of Iron, Potash, and especially Calcium.
Wish I had some....

 

[neilo]

My sheep never seem to eat nettles unless they have been cut, or the sheep are half starved. I hear goats will graze them off readily, which perhaps explains some of the posts above re: shedding sheep.......

 

[pgk]

My sheep never seem to eat nettles unless they have been cut, or the sheep are half starved. I hear goats will graze them off readily, which perhaps explains some of the posts above re: shedding sheep.......

That explains it then I have a batch on water meadows half starved and shedders to boot!

 

[johnflimston]

My sheep never seem to eat nettles unless they have been cut, or the sheep are half starved. I hear goats will graze them off readily, which perhaps explains some of the posts above re: shedding sheep.......

Cheek

 

[johnflimston]

I think they eat them because they like them, it's a myth that sheep know what their deficient in and seek out something to rectify it in my opinion

 

[rancher]

I think they eat them because they like them, it's a myth that sheep know what their deficient in and seek out something to rectify it in my opinion

Surely that's why sheep pastures have nettles here and there around the field that doesn't happen with cattle, they eat the seeds and proceed to place them round the field in a warm moist growing medium

 

[crazy_bull]

I have a couple who will eat thistles, they bite them off low down then eat from the base of the stem to the tip, I guess so the prickles go in easier. wish they would teach the whole flock would save a bit on Thistlex!

C B

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I wish my bloody sheep would eat nettles.

wish mine would too!

 

[Green farmer]

Let me know if you can find a sheep of any breed to eat rushes. I'd never have to make a bale of silage again.

 

[Christine Falk]

Mine eat nettles after it has rained a lot when the faster growing grass contains less minerals. They choose nettles under the oak trees first which contain even more nutrients from last year's acorns. They do have a mineral lick as well.

 

[Dry Rot]

It's not lack of roughage, is it? Grass too lush and soft? Chuck a bit of hay out and see what they make of that, despite there being plenty of grass.

 

[primmiemoo]

They're probably after a bit of variety. Sheep do well on diverse swards, and also like browse from the hedges. There are vitamins and minerals in nettles. Fresh taste different from dry, I'd imagine ~ I've only eaten fresh nettles. The seeds have a feed value (protein boost for herbivores), and the dry winter stems give shelter pockets for tibby lambs.
Wonderful plants, nettles.