Barley and Alfalfa Ration for Sheep: Gulf Feeding Examples

A barley and alfalfa ration for sheep combines alfalfa hay as the roughage base, supplying protein, fibre and calcium, with barley as the energy source. The share of barley rises with needs: low for dry ewes, higher for late pregnancy, lactation and fattening. Any increase in grain must be gradual, water must always be available, and the final ration should be adjusted with a nutritionist.

Across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, barley and alfalfa (برسيم) are the two most familiar feeds on sheep and goat farms. Grazing is limited for much of the year, so most flocks depend on bought feed. Getting the balance right between these two ingredients is the difference between a healthy, productive flock and a costly one.

Why barley and alfalfa work together

Each ingredient covers what the other lacks:

• Alfalfa hay is rich in protein and calcium and provides the long fibre the rumen needs to work properly. On its own, it can be expensive and may not provide enough energy for high-producing animals.
• Barley is a dense energy source, mostly starch. It is usually cheaper per unit of energy, but it is low in calcium and poor in long fibre. Too much barley, too fast, can upset the rumen.

Together they make a simple, workable ration. Many farms also use Rhodes grass hay or other grass hays as part of the roughage, and a commercial concentrate or pellet as part of the grain. The logic stays the same: roughage first, energy added according to need.

Local supply also matters. In parts of the Gulf, water-saving policies and import dependence mean the price and quality of alfalfa can change from one season to another. Buying by quality, not only by price, protects your animals.

Illustrative rations by group

The table below gives illustrative examples only for an adult ewe of about 50 to 60 kg, such as a Naimi or Najdi-type ewe, fed in a pen. Real needs depend on breed, weight, body condition, climate and feed quality. Use these figures as a starting point to discuss with a nutritionist, not as a prescription.

For fattening lambs, the balance flips: concentrate becomes the main part of the ration and roughage is kept as a smaller but essential share. We cover this in detail in our 90-day lamb fattening plan.

Always add a mineral source suitable for sheep (salt and a sheep mineral mix) and clean water at all times. See our guide to minerals and salt licks.

How to change the ration safely

Most problems with barley come from sudden change, not from barley itself. Follow a few simple rules:

1. Increase barley step by step. A common approach is to raise the grain portion gradually over about 10 to 14 days rather than in one jump.
2. Never remove the roughage. Long fibre keeps the rumen working. Animals that have barley but little hay are at higher risk of digestive upsets.
3. Split the grain into two or more meals. Several smaller meals are safer than one large meal.
4. Give enough trough space. If dominant animals push others away, some eat too much grain and others too little.
5. Watch the dung and appetite. Loose dung, animals off feed, bloated or lame animals after a change in ration are signs to slow down and call your vet.

Common mistakes on Gulf farms

• One ration for everyone. Dry ewes become fat while lactating ewes lose condition. Separate at least two or three groups.
• Judging alfalfa only by colour. Good alfalfa is leafy, smells fresh and is free of mould, dust and soil. Stemmy, dusty hay has lower value even if it is green.
• Forgetting the males. Male lambs on high-grain diets are prone to urinary stones. A balanced mineral supply, enough roughage and plenty of water reduce the risk; ask your vet about prevention.
• Overheating in summer. In hot months animals eat less during the day. Feeding more of the ration in the cooler early morning and evening, with shade and cool water, helps keep intake steady.
• Not weighing. Without regular weighing, you cannot tell whether a ration is working.

Putting the ration into practice

A ration only works if it is followed every day. A practical routine:

• Write the ration per group on a simple sheet and post it in the feed store.
• Weigh the barley and hay per pen at least once a week to check the workers' measures.
• Weigh a sample of animals every few weeks and check body condition.
• Record each feed purchase so you can compare cost and quality between suppliers.

In Throf you can record meals per group, and each meal is deducted from your feed stock in kilograms. With regular weights entered for each animal, you can see whether a group is gaining as expected and what its feeding really costs. If costs are climbing, our article on how to reduce feed costs on a sheep farm lists the main levers.

The short version

Start with good alfalfa as the base, add barley according to the group's needs, increase grain slowly, keep minerals and water available and weigh regularly. Above all, treat any ration table, including the one above, as an example to adapt with a nutritionist to your own animals, feed quality and climate.